TABLE 9.— PRODUCTION AI^D VAI.,UK TO FISHEIMEN OF 

 CHILEAJJ SHlUriP, BY IisAHS, 19hS TO 195h 

 (Convei'ted to pouiuis, hcacls-ou weitiht) 



Value in , 



Ye^ Po^^^'^s 1,000 pesos y 



1,701 



1,B03 

 3,162 

 1,770 

 1,6U7 

 1,568 

 l,68h 

 2,175 

 3,388 

 10,9i40 



1/ Exchange rates varied too greatly to permit 

 conversion into Americaii currency. 



Source: Ministerio de Agriciiltura, Direccion 

 General de Pesca y Gaza, Republica de Ghile. 



There is a closed season on shrimp from September 1 to Decem- 

 ber 31 in the area between Quintero and Ouintay near Valparaiso. 



OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION 



The prospects of increasing the shr.ijnp catch in the present 

 areas of operation appears favorable. Difficulty in finding a profit- 

 able market seems to be the principal cause for lack of development. 

 It is highly probable that nev fishing areas will be developed as the 

 market grows. The possibilities of developing a fishery for the large 

 red shrimp are still unknown since the fishing grounds and the abiindance 

 have not been established with any degree of certainty. 



The expansion of the shrimp fishery will probably depend more 

 on the domestic than on the export market. The prospects for an increase 

 in production for export seem to be more immediate and more likely in the 

 case of the langostino, but little is known about the life and habits of 

 the langostino or of its distribution and abundance. It is probable that 

 the langostino occurs in abundance over a great length of the coast. More 

 than 5.7 million pounds were taJ-ren in 195U. 



FISHERI^ll^N AND GEAR 



There are no full-time shrimp fishermen in Chile. Perhaps a 

 hundred men may fish occasionally for shrimp and langostino. In 195^ 

 there were about 13,700 people working in the fishing and whaling indus- 

 tries, of vjhich about 9,100 v;ere fishermen and U,600 worked ashore in the 

 plants. The fishermen are paid fixed wages, and a bonus when the catches 

 exceed a set quota. 



29 



