of operation.-^ rjincd 1950. Li thu ab;ioace of a rjlrillod laljur x-u'jorvu 

 inmy inoxpcrionced crcn;;; had to b? hired. Mori who had little fichijic 

 oqr?r"ionco and \ho uoro laclcing in a thorouch knoyledco of vc:;3ol han- 

 dling and scan:mshi;> fraqajutly ujra ci.ploycd aa captaiirj. Thu chrLnp 

 boat skipper noxr fi<jhiiif: iii the Gulf Goi.ictiiiics lacka oricinality and 

 soldorti oporatoc alone or attempts to hunt for nciir fishing locations. 

 Experienced crcus are difficult to find. The majority of thu crui; muin- 

 bers encountared durij^c ona survey had only been to sea once or twico. 



1/liitc labor is prodoiainant in the industry, although its 

 labor force is made up of many diverse races and nationalities. In 

 arcaj t^hich historically have been developed by specific national 

 strains, the shrLnp crows are^ in the majority, made up froin meTibers 

 of these sroups. Thus, ataong the fishermen opcratins out of Louis- 

 iana portc, there are many men of French descent. In other instances, 

 persons of Spanish, Porbucuose or Yusoslavian origin predominate. 



In the great majority of cases, boats are captained by 

 Caucasians. In Florida ports, however, the use of Negro labor is 

 becoming more and more iraportant, as is the use of Mexican fishermen 

 in Texas ports, Soiae Florida boats are operated successfully under 

 the command of Negro captains. For the most part, hoirover, Negroes 

 and Mexicans aboard shrimp vessels work as crew members rather than 

 as captains. Negro labor is used in all states except in Texas. VJhile 

 there is no prohibition of Negro labor in Texas, the position that the 

 Negro holds in other areas is largely filled by Mexican labor there. 



All slii'inp fishermen and all shrimp cannery workers are 

 covered by Old Age and Survivor Insurance. It doe:5 not matter whether 

 the fishermen are hired labor or self-f;i,T)loyed. The curr-^nt rate of 

 the Federal Insin-ance contribution bo::, ohe basis of the Old Ago and 

 Survivors Benefits, is 1,^1/2 percent of the first ^;1|,200 of income of 

 the t.idployoo and is collected in equal anounts (2-1/ii percent each) 

 from ciaoloyer and employee, the employee's contribution bein- deducted 

 for hiia bv ttia employer. Self-employediy pay the Federal Insui'ance 

 conti-ibm.Lon tccc when their income is over ,ihOO per year. The rate 

 of th. tax collected from them is 3-3/8 percent on the first $h,200 of 

 net :luco..io. The benefits for employed and self-employed alike range 

 from V30 to about ^08 a month. Additional bonofitn are provided for 

 depeuvlent wives and survivors. (A new achedule becomes effective 

 January 1, 1959.) 



Employers vjho employ U or more persons for 20 woe):.-; muiit 

 contribube to the state imemployment co;!ipensation fimd. Houjvur, fevf 



l^/ Among the self-employed in the industry covered by the law are: 



1. A^fifjh-araan operating his o:m boat by htniaelr' or with a crew 

 of one or morej 



2. A processor owning and operating a fi<;h~canning factory; 



3- An ourier and opji..tor of a wholesale fish business, a retail 



fish store, or a fishing gcai' supply liouse. 

 k. A minufacturer of fishing gear or netting. 



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