In packing, each box is filled with 102 to 106 pounds of shrimp, the 

 excess beinc on allowance for vrastc, water and for shrinlcago en route. 



If delivery is for a plant located near the docks, the box 

 packing step is eliminated. In the southern Texas ports where the biilk 

 of the shrimp are taken to local freezers and breaders, the shrimp mixed 

 with crushed ice are loaded loose into insulated trucks for shipment. 



\Jhen the shrimp plant is located adjacent to the cannery or 

 freezing or breading plants, as in some Texas and Georgia ports, trucking 

 is eliminated. A section of the processing establishment is devoted to 

 the initial functions of unloading, washing, and heading. Tliis section 

 is physically incoi'poi''ated into the plant so that the slirimp may be 

 passed directly. from the boat into the processing line. 



In the course of its survey of domestic shrimp-plant efficiency 

 First Research Corporation of Florida had occasion to observe operationa 

 in one fresh shrimp plant located in Florida. The layout of this plant 

 was described as follows: 



Plant layout . --The receiving, packing, and shipping area was a 

 closed shed-type structure housing the necessary equipment for unloading, 

 weighing and icing the containers of fresh headless shrimp for shipment. 



The equipueut used for receiving, packing, and shipping con- 

 sisted of two power hoists, one for each of two docks; two wash vats; 

 two chain mesh conveyors, operating between wash vats and scales; two 

 large pan scales and the necessary lengths of roller tracks to move filled 

 containers to the shipping area. 



The receiving area handled not only fresh headless shrimp but 

 other types of fish and shellfish as well. Because of this, utilization 

 of ai'ea, equipment, and manpower i«is good vrLth a minimum of idle time 

 during the work day. 



In addition to the equipinent mentioned above, a mechanical ice 

 crusher -vriLth blower attachment for loading crushed ice in bins was located 

 in the receiving area. This machine was set to turn out finely crushed 

 ice. 



A grading machine had been installed to accommodate customers 

 who \rish. to buy within a specific graded size category rather than the 

 general "fisherman's count" sizes, (see figui'e V - $2) 



Plant procedure . --The step-by- step operational procedure of the 

 plant is as follows: 



2U7 



