The above-described fishing methods are primitive. Some of 

 them evidently were used before the arrival of Cortes. They are still 

 being used, and inore than 6.6 million pounds of shrimp are taken each 

 year with them. The otter trawl, hov;ever, is the mainstay of the Mexican 

 shrimp fishery. There are about 750 tra^^flers fishing for shrimp in 

 Mexico, 2^0 on the east coast and 500 along the west coast. 



Practically all of the east-coast trawlers are Florida-type. 

 A few have steel hulls, but most of them are of wooden construction. In 

 length the vessels range from about iiO to 75 feet, overall. The average 

 boat is about $^ feet long and represents a capital investment of about 

 $20,000. 



On the east coast the most popular net for white and broim 

 shrimp is the 95-foot (at the mouth) flat traxjl. For pink shrimp, 

 generally a 75-foot balloon trawl is used. The lead line is rigged 

 with chains, and a chain spacer of from 6 to lU feet is used between 

 the otter boards and the net. The genera], practice is to use tarred 

 webbing of 18-thread, 2-|-inch, stretched mesh in the wings and body, 

 and h2- or UB-thread, 2+-inch to 27-inch, mesh in the bag. The boats 

 average about six new nets a year; while the net lasts, it is contin- 

 ually being repaired. 



The otter boards are usually 10 feet long by i|0 inches high. 



The towing cables are generally 7/16 inch in diameter and 

 750 to 900 feet long. They last from 8 to 12 months before replacement 

 and are treated with cable compound or tar every 2 or 3 months, when- 

 ever they appear to need treatment. The towing winches are mostly 

 three drum, although there are a few two-drum winches. 



Practically all boats use try nets and carry marker buoys 

 fixed with lights for night fishing. Most boats tow the main net from 

 the starboard side, but some tow from the port side. The try net is 

 towed from a boom on the side opposite the main net. 



The crews are mostly composed of five men, although some of 

 the smaller boats carry only four men. 



IfJhite shrimp are caught during the day, brown and pink at 

 night. Trips are generally less than 7 days' duration. 



West-coast trawling operations differ from those on the east 

 coast in that most of the boats follovj the California purse-seine 

 design. Buoys are not used to mark fishing spots; there are no spacers 

 between the net and the doors; there are 6 to 8 crevj members, normal 

 complement being 7; and trips usually last about 12 days. 



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