west coast, 5/ The inland fisheries accounted for approximately 6 per- 

 cent, and the Pacific coast halibut fishery for somev;hat less tlian h per- 

 cent of all motor vessels in 1953. 6/ 



The full growth of the shrimp fleet in the last twenty-five 

 years is not shown by a comparison between the number of vessels, motor 

 boats, and shrimp trawls engaged in the fishery in 1930 and in 19^6. To 

 gain proper perspective of the increase in fishing activity a comparison 

 of vessel and boat capacity in net tons is needed. 



Figure 11-17 shows that the increase in vessel tonnage tram 

 less than 2,500 net tons in 1930 to about 80,0C0 net tons in 1956 has 

 been the most significant development in the period studied in the 

 Dutn Atlantic and Gulf Area shrimp fleet. Since the average motor 

 boat tonnage is small, the contribution of this type of craft to total 

 tonnage is relatively modest. Total fishing capacity increased from 

 6,7iU net tons in 1930 to 88,370 net tons in 1956. Average capacity 

 of snrijnp vessels, figure II-18 reveals, went up from 8,6 to 21.7 net 

 tons over the period. 



The fishing capacity of a shrimp vessel is considerably 

 smaller ttian the average tuna vessel. The suirvey of the tuna industry 

 completed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1953 

 indicates that in 1951 the average capacity of a vessel fishing ex- 

 clusively for tuna on the west coast approximated 50 net tons. Pacific 

 coast vessels fishing for tuna and other species in that year averaged 

 about 35 net tons. 



Typical Vessel Prices 



Recent vessel price quotations ranged from a few thousand 

 dollars for Biiiall inshore travjlers to as much as 170,000 or f 80, 000 

 for fully equipped Florida -type vessels. Steel hulls are appreciably 

 more expensive than wooden hulls; the cost of a 70-foot steel vessel 

 is approximately |;70,000 compared with ^5,000 to ^50,000 for a simi- 

 lar size vessel of vjooden construction. Steel vessel builders claim 

 that vessels constructed with the two raaterials would differ little 

 in price if tlie same standard ijore adhered to by all shipbuilders. 



Dataware gathered on the cost of the boatowner's fixed 

 investment at the time of acquisition in connection with a study of 



£/ See A. ¥. Anderson, W. H. Stolting, et. al.. Survey of the Domestic 

 Tuna Industry, 1953 . 



6/ The data on the inland fisheries are talcen from Fisheries of the 

 United State s and Alaskayl9S3} Si/P relpaina iiy'Reylev} the data on 

 tho nalibut Tisliery areiaken from Flshety Statistics of the United 

 States, 1953 1 Statistical Digest No, 3^ 



77 



