depending upon demand, receive from 12 to $0 cents a pound for these 

 peeled dried shriinp. The salt costs a trifle over 3 cents a pound. 57/ 



The average wage of an unskilled laborer in Surinam is 

 between 75 and 90 cents a day. 



OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION 



I'Jhen fully developed, the Surinam shrin^ fishery probably 

 will produce 5 to 6 million pounds, heads-on weight, of shriirp, 

 moatly sea bobs, a year. To do this, traviling in nearby coastal waters 

 will have to be employed. 



The government is interested in fostering the development of 

 the fishery industry, and it can be presumed, therefore, that shrimp 

 production will increase in the immediate future. A plant for processing 

 frozen cooked-peeled shrimp moats for export is nearing conpletion in 

 Paramaribo in anticipation of an increased demand. 



Some exporiraental trawling with rudimentary gear has been done, 

 but the government is planning for additional experimental work with com- 

 mercial-type equipment. 



FOREIGN TRADE 



Surinam inports and exports of shrin^ are insignificant. 

 In 195U, U,ilOO po\inds of dried shrimp were imported (from Cliina) and 

 19,600 pounds of dried shrimp were exported. Host of the dried shrimp 

 exports went to Trinidad, Imported shrimp are subject to a 20-percent 

 ad valorem tax. Exports are free up to a total of 88,200 pounds annually; 

 shrimp exports in excess of this amount are reserved for one conpany having 

 an exclusive franchise for 15 years. 



57/ Conversion rate 1 guilder . approxiiaately U. S. 53 cents, 



158 



