HrPLOYI'-IfiNT OF THE Cimill? FLEET 111 OTILF.R raSILERIES 



A.n iiiifiortant rcaturo of tho inchorc fishin[; industry of Louisio.na, 

 Alabama, and HiscisGippi, is its clor.o connoction \i±th oystorinr. Since the 

 smaller shrirrip boats and oyster boats have siriiilar oquiprannt, tlifiy lend 

 ther.isolves to intercliaiiceablo use. Tlia ssasrns of the tuo fishories are 

 corniloraflntary and the processing of both oystors and shrimp is carried on 

 in the same canneries. 



Many of the larger shriinp vessels from Beaufort and liorchead City, 

 North Carolina, engage in a trawl fishery for fish off Cape Hattoras during 

 tie vrinter months. The vessels fish from December until April and shrimp 

 the remainder of the year. It is estimated that the income derived from 

 trawling for fish accounts for nearly fifty percent of a vessel's total 

 annual revenue. Vessel ovmers and captains believe tliat the average Florida- 

 type vessel is too lightly constructed to vrithstand the rough weather opera- 

 tions in this fishery. Bow draggors are preferred, because of their sturdier 

 construction and their method of to^fing the net through stern gallox/s as 

 distinguished from the boom arrangement on the Florida- typo vessel. 



Soma Florida-type trawlers have been successful in dragging for 

 fish for catfood plants in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Conventional nets and 

 doors are used. 



The Texas slirimp fishery is moi*e specialized tlian the shrimp 

 industry in other States, Rarely is shrimj^ing coupled irLth other opera- 

 tions. Occasionally, an operator may combine his shriiaping activities with 

 a charter operation. One shrimp plruit in Freeport encourages boats to bring 

 in snapper v;henever possible. Fishermen, however, reportedly are hesitant 

 to put forth an^- extra effort to catch snapper, among other reasons because 

 of its lu-ghly erratic market price. 



Few slirimp vessel captains. First Research Corporation believes, 

 have the necessary experience to switch over to snapper fisydng. If 

 skippers familiar vn.th both fishories were available, an ideal operation 

 wo\i].d embody fishing for snapper during the spring when shriirrping slacks 

 off and dragging for shrimp in the summer as snapper fishing falls off. 



Another reason wly snapper and shrimp are not landed together 

 in appreciable quantity is that at present the shore plants handling snap- 

 per and grouper discourage the production of fish on a part time basis by 

 the slrrimp vessel. They clalra that the poor techniques Tor the haaidling 

 of fish used by the shrimpsrs lead to an inferior product. In icing and 

 handling, the crews naturally give first consideration to tlie more valua- 

 ble shrimp catch and often neglect the fish that they liave tfiken. In ad- 

 dition, any large increase in fish catches adversely affects the ex-vessel 

 prices obtained by the regular snapper fisherman. Dealers cannot afford 

 to jeopardize their regular source of snapper by encouraring production 

 from slirirrip vessels which will not bother i-rith snapper when the catches 

 of shrimp are plentillil or prices are good. 



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