Boat oxpcnrsoa, item by item, arc louor on motor boata 

 than on vessels. Intarest costs, iriLth ono exception, do not appear on 

 tho motor boat cost svuc.iaiy. IJlijthor this is thD result of tho rela- 

 tively modest capital investment roquirod (cost at acquisition of motor 

 boats on tho Federal Trade Coimiiission tabulations ranging from ^1,000 

 to .,'3,500 fully equipped) which can bo mot by th3 ovmor himself or stems 

 from a roluctanco on the part of lending agencies to ox^tond credit for 

 tho acquisition of those craft, could not be detoiTnincd* 



Co!Rpa rison Bot;j3on Iced a nd _Fg:^3ror Vercals 



Among the vessels in Region II ('.^est coast of Florida), for 

 which 19^h coct imormation was obtained^ \rs3 one unit -trhich had a 

 freezer installation on board. V/hile this vessel sustained a net loss 

 during this year of depressed prices (data for other years x/ould have to 

 be gathered before the cconomcs of this type of operation can be properly 

 assessed) the data permit a rough comparison with the operations of iced 

 vessels fishing out of the same ports and making the Cai.peche trip. 



Tha flreezor vossol not only was ablo to obtain a better 

 price for its catch but also managed to savo on trip e^qpensoa as com- 

 pared to the iced vessels. In contrast to those advantages is the svib- 

 stantially greater depreciation charge in the case of the freezer 

 vessel. This amounted to over lU conta par pound, nearly three times 

 the amount charged off annually to iced vessels. 



INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF FISHING COSTS 



Trends in cost can be observed most readily by a comparison 

 of average total costs. In order to identify the areas where economies 

 may be offoctod, the average total cost must be broken dovn into ita 

 individual coinponents* 



There is littJ.e that can be dona to effect savings in tho 

 short run as far as certain areas of cost are concerned. In other 

 fields prospects for cost cutting are brighter. A thoroxigh examination 

 of tho variables having a bearing on the matjoitude of individual elements 

 of cost is required before these fields can be discovered* 



Thus, a study of fuel costs will lead to an evaluation of 

 engine efficiency. A discussion of icing costs will involve a study of 

 hold insulation. Sources of credit and financing probleans have to be 

 considered in connection with interest expense. A thorough analysis of 

 these and other factors affecting individual elements of fishing costs 

 would lead beyond the scope of this report. It will suffice to point 

 out here the principal considerations in a study of cost economies* 



206 



