Each region has doveloped individually and has adapted itself 

 to meet its ovm particular needs, to maximize the advantages and to 

 minimize the disadvantages of its location. All of the areas are affected, 

 hov/ever, by geographi.cal forces that stem from the distributional pattern 

 of the national market for shrimp and the distributional channels which 

 this market has developed. 



The Atlantic coastal area is favorably situated in relation 

 to the nation's most concentrated consumer market — the industrial north- 

 east. On the other hand, the discovery of more productive grounds else- 

 where has placed it at a comparative disadvantage in respect to supply. 



The Florida Gulf coast is in close proximity to valuable shrinp 

 resources off the Dry Tortugas and Sanibol Island. The industry hero also 

 draws a large portion o f its resources from the waters 6f the Gulf of 

 Campeche. Although farther aviay from the Neivlfork market than are the 

 Carolinas and Georgia, Florida is stili close enough to be able to ship 

 fresh shriiTip there in refrigerated trucks. 



The north Gulf coastline is crowded with many small inlets, 

 bayous, and canals that provide suitable conditions for shrimp propa- 

 gation. Shrimp caught here are generally small and lend themselves 

 to the needs of the canning industry; and historically Louisiana, 

 Mississippi and Alabama have been important producers of the canned 

 product. 



The discovery and development of important shrimping grounds 

 in Gulf xiraters off the Texas and northern Mexican coasts have prompted 

 the remarkable expansion of the industry in Texas, Production has in- 

 creased rapidly in recent years and several Texas ports have risen to 

 dominance. Because of the r elatively great distances from Texas to 

 large consumer markets, the freezing and breading processes are of 

 paramount importance, and Texas leads the industry in these linos, 



Figiire 1-13 shovrs the principal shrimp landing and pro- 

 cessing areas of the South Atlantic and Gulf regions. Since shrimping 

 is of such relatively small importance elsewhere, this map, for all 

 practical pvirposes, presents a panorama of the domestic industry, 



SUPPLY OUTLOOK 



Speciilation about the future of the shrimp industry revolves 

 around the possibilities of expanding supply. 



On the demand side, a principal problem is the maintenance 

 of prices at levels which will not frighten potential consumers out of 

 the market. VJith the notable exception of a period of high prices in 

 1953 which acted as a temporary deterrent to sales, consumers have shown 

 generally a willingness to absorb vjhatevor quantities of shirimp are 

 channeled to them. Consumption, in a period of tvro decades, has in- 

 creased three-fold. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that demand 

 may continue to respond favorably provided prices of shrimp remain com- 

 petitive v;ith other protein foods, 



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