TABLE IV - 39.— AV1:HAGE COST OF PRODUCTION MD OPEBATIWG PROFIT 

 AMD LOSS OF TYPICAL MOTOR iOAT OPERATIONS, 



1952, 1953 AMD l95^^ 



Costs Ret^i on I Re,^ion II Regi o n III Refjion IV 



195'+ 1953 195^ 1952 1953 195^ 1952 1953 195ii 



(Cents per pound) 

 Gross 

 receipts 30>6 23.86 20.08 32.98 42.35 32.97 36.70 38.85 23.93 



Cost of 

 produc- 

 tion 34.26 19.60 20.65 25.44 28.65 27.59 1/15.78 1/15.71 1/10.62 



Profit 

 (or 1088) -3.80 4.26 -.57 7.54 13.70 5.38 1/20.92 1/23.14 1/13.31 



1/ Crew wages not included since boats were owner-operated. Data conse- 

 quently not conrparalDle v/ith those of other threo regions. Two additional 

 B3gion IV motor boats for which 1954 data veve available, and which were 

 not owner-operated, operated at a loss. 



Motor boat receipts were considerably below those of the 

 large vessels for corresponding regions and years. The smaller radius 

 of operations and the smaller and less valuable shrimp caught by motor 

 boats in all probability account for this difference, 



VJhen measured in cents per pound of shrimp taken, trip ex- 

 penses of motor boats are substantilly lower than those of vessels. The 

 big differential in trip costs is accounted for by low crew wages. Many 

 of the motor boat operations are conducted by one man. Where a helper 

 is taken on, his wages under the lay system of compensation depend on 

 boat receipts vjhich are lower in the case of motor boats than in the 

 case of vessels. Aside from crew wages, trip expenses of motor boats 

 are lower because of smaller fuel and ice consumption. Average grocery 

 expenses appear larger since the grocery purchases of the owner-operator 

 show up on his operating statements in contrast to the practice on craft 

 manned by hired labor vjhere the crev/ pays for its food. 



By components of cost the motor boat expenses were distributed 

 as follows: (see table IV - 40) 



204 



