The boats used in this analysis are company-owned sister ships. 

 They are identical in that each is 6 years old, 56 feet long, of 22 net 

 tons, with an 85-horsepower diesel engine, and carries a T~man crew. 



' Crew wage ;— The crews are paid on a share basis according to 

 contract. In addition, the captain, the engineer, and in some instances 

 the assistant engineer are paid bonuses by the boat owner. It is not 

 customary to pay different amounts for small and large shrimp. 



The crew share, for the 2-year contract period ending during 

 late summer 1956, was 920 pesos a metric ton (about $7h for 2,20U.6 

 pounds) of headless shrimp. The method of distributing this amount seems 

 to vary somewhat with different cooperatives. Some divide it evenly among 

 all crew members, others allow a bit more for the captain and engineer 

 than for the hands. In either instance the total wage of a hand consists 

 only of his share, since he does not get a bonus. 



The extra amounts paid tiie technical personnel vary greatly. 

 One company pays the captain 600 pesos ($l48) a metric ton and the engineer 

 500 pesos ($U0) a ton plus 10 pesos (80 cents) daily. If the engineer 

 chooses, he may get the same amount per ton as the captain but without 

 the daily wage. Another company pays a straight salary of 20 to 25 pesos 

 ($1.60 to $2.00) daily throughout the year to the captain and engineer. 

 In addition, these men, depending upon their ability, are paid 150 to 

 250 pesos ($12 to $20) for each ton of headless shrimp landed by their 

 boat. Still another company pays the captain and engineer, and some- 

 times the assistant engineer, 25 to 30 pesos ($2.00 to $2.I|0) daily during 

 the off season (August and September) and a bonus per ton of 700 pesos 

 ($56) to the captain, 500 ($h0) to the engineer and 100 ($8) to the 

 assistant engineer. 



Ice ; — The price ol ice varies according to locality. At Guaymas 

 and Mazatlan it runs between 60 and 65 pesos ($1;.80 to $5.20) a ton, crushed 

 and delivered aboard boat. At Salina Cruz it costs about $8 a ton. During 

 the height of the season at Salina Cruz, ice has been brought in from as 

 far away as Mexico City and Veracruz. 



Fuel and oil ; — Because of transportation charges, diesel fuel 

 is more expensive in Guaymas and Mazatlan than in Salina Cruz. Along the 

 northern coast, diesel oil costs 25 centavos (about 2 cents) a liter, 

 while in Salina Cruz it costs 1? centavos (about l.U cents). 



Food ; — On the west coast, food is not calculated on the basis of 

 so much per man per day; it is customary for the boat ovmer to pay all 

 food bills for each trip. The trips generally last 10 to 15 days, usually 

 about 12. The food bill amounts to 1,200 or 1,300 pesos ($96 to $10U) 

 a trip. 



103 



