The ca?)tain3 are estimated to average about ^^l60 29/a month, 

 the engineers about $120 and the hands between $90 and ^95 • 



There are about 90 shrimp trawlers operating in Panama. Most 

 are wooden Florida- type trawlers with dlesel engines. A few are converted 

 west-coast fishing boats flrom the United States. They are from about 3^ 

 to 65 feet long, the average * length being about $0 feet. About 15 new 

 trawlers were under construction in November, 1955. The majority of these 

 were to have wooden hulls, but about four were to be of steel. Since 

 August of 1953 only boats built in Panama can fish commercially in 

 Panamanian vjaters. 



Host boats are oxmed by the dealers or processors. Probably 

 about 15 boats are oxrned by persons who sell to the processors. The 

 average boat with its gear and equipmant is worth about 5^18,000. Total 

 investment in vessels and gear is estimated to be about ^i;l,6 million. 



Fishing trips in the Gulf of Panama are usually from 5 to 7 

 days J trips to the vastem grovinds niay last 10 to 12 days. In 195U, the 

 average boat caught about 50,000 pounds of white shrimp, headless weight. 

 The price paid the boat oxmers was about 36 cents a pound. In November, 

 1955j prices ;jore high, and boat OMiers were receiving between 50 and $^ 

 cents a pound for headless wliite slirimp. 



The ger^raD. accoimting practice '5eems to be to depreciate 

 the boat and engine in 10 years. The enginss are overhauled every 10 to 

 18 months. The boats are hixilod, cleaned, and copper-painted about every 

 h months. Full-coverage insurance, ..'500 deductible, costs 6 percent of 

 the evaluation of the boat. Ice costs betireen ^';8 and i^;.9 per ton, and a 

 boat xjill use around 250 tona of ice a year. Fuel and oil costs run 

 slightly higher than the ico. 



Tlie prevalent type of trawl is tho Gulf of Mexico design ilat 

 trawl from 1^0 to 9^ feet at the mouth. The average is around 75 feet 

 with 2|'dnch mesh (stretched), 18- thread in the idjigs ajid boctsr and 

 U2-thread in the tail. The nets are xri.thout spacers. The wings are 

 fastened directly to the boards. A boat xri-ll use, on the average, 1 net 

 every 2 months. VJhile the net lasts, it is repaired constantly. Towing 

 cables ai'e replaced about once a year. 



50/ Exchange rate, 1 balboa = United States $1.00; values are 

 given in United States dollars only. 



137 



