entire amount of shrimp thab El Salvador caii produce. The major de- 

 terrents to immediate expansion are the lack of shore facilities and 

 the probleias connected ivith the issuance of licenses. The currently 

 operating boats are fishing with temporary permits; it v;as reported 

 that additional boats were awaiting permission to operate. 



FISHEIUKN AND GEAH 



Six trawlers from about 36 to 80 feet long were operating in 

 El Salvador for both fish and shrimp. None fished exclusively for 

 shrimp. Many small fishes, not marketable in some other countries, 

 find a ready market in EL Salvador. 



The larger boats use a semiballoon trawl, 75 feet at the 

 mouth. One of the trawlers uses 7-foot 6-inch by U2-inch doors and 

 16-foot door legs; the trawl is 2^— inch stretched mesh throughout with 

 18-thread twine in the wings and body and 5i4-thread in the cod end. 



Shore and dockage facilities are not good. In La Union the 

 boats can approach the dock only at high tide. This, of course, limits 

 loading and luiLoading time unless lighters are used. There are no 

 marine ways or drydock, so the boats go to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for 

 haul -outs. There are no large shore freezing facilities in the area. 

 Ice-making capacity in La Union is very limited. It was reported that 

 an additional small ice plant was to be constructed in La Union which 

 would bring the total ice-making capacity for this port to about 6 

 tons daily. Ice was retailing for $20 to $2ii a ton in La Union and 

 for about $10 to $13 a ton in San Salvador. 



The trawlers carry from h to 12 men aboard. There are about 

 50 fishermen operating the trawlers. The fishermen work for wages and 

 do not share in the catch. Their provisions, which are chiefly rice, 

 beans, and tortillas, are furnished by the boat owner. The monthly 

 wages of the hands run from 90 to 130 colones 22/ ($36 to $52). This 

 is somewhat better than unskilled labor ashore is paid. Outside San 

 Salvador the daily wage of an unskilled laborer is from 1 to 1.50 

 colones a day. 



On one boat the captain and the first and second engineer 

 are paid monthly salaries that amount to $i;00 for a captain and $160 

 and $120 for an engineer. Trained personnel is scarce. 



22/ One colon is equivalent to United States UO cents. 



63 



