RESULTS OF FISHING OPERATIONS 



Most of the vessels located on the Atlantic coast ranged from 

 medium to small in size. The vessels for vhich particulars were obtained 

 in the field study had hold capacities from 5 to 29 net tons. The fish- 

 ery in this region is primarily inshore. Occasionally, some of the 

 lai'ger vessels fish the Tortugas grounds daring a part of the year. 

 According to information furnished the Federal Trade Commission account- 

 ants, these operations have not been profitable. Cost of vessel and 

 equipment to the current owner averaged about $13^000 and ranged from 

 as low as $600 to as high as $^2,000. 



For the most part, vessels based at Tampa and other southern 

 Florida ports (Region II), take approximately three days to reach the 

 Campeche fishing grounds. These vessels usually remain at sea for at 

 least a month and send into port via Incoaaiing vessels the shrimp taken 

 during each three or four day period. Fishing at such distances from 

 houe port naturally involves many hazards and requires larger and better 

 eg.uippcd vescels. The few vessels for which data could be obtained in 

 ttiie region had capacities from 13 to 30 net tons. The original invest- 

 ment in vessel and equipment by the owner averaged $33*000, the range 

 extending from $17,000 to over $1*9,000. 



Operations along the Gulf coast in the States of Alabeuaa, 

 Miaciisoippi, and Louiclana (Region III), are both inshore and offshore. 

 Tiie vescels contacted had net tonnages ranging from 6 to 36 net tons. 

 Cost of vessels and equiraent to the current owner averaged about $15,000 

 for thece vessels, the range extending from $3,000 to $36,000. 



State of Texas (Region IV) producers depend mostly on offshore 

 grounds for their supply of shrinp. Their vessels, consequently, are 

 largsr in sire, especially those built in recent years. The majority 

 of vessels for vjhich data were obtained were in the 20 to 35 net ton 

 category. Coat of vessel and equipL^ant to the current owner ranged fran 

 a low of $S,550 for a 7- ton, to nearly $1*7,000 for a 33 -ton vessel, 

 averaging about $23*000. 



Coarparisons E3t%reen Different Regions and Different Years 



Vessels 



In order to make possible comparisons for different years 

 simultaneously with comparisons for different regions, only vessels for 

 which complete data for 19^2, 19^3, and I9^k are available have been 

 included in the presentation below, except for Region I where no data 

 is shown for 1952. Tables IV - 1? through IV - 2? show gross receipts, 

 cost of production, and operating profit (loss) for these vessels in 

 dollars for each region and year. Table IV - 28 summarizes the data 

 and presents gross receipts, cost of production, and operating profit 

 (loss) of operations for each region and year in cents per pound of 

 shrimp taken. 



179 



