and other tunalike fishes also are important « Large fixed traps 

 are the major gear employed; trolling lines and various types of 

 gill nets and seines are also usedo The Portuguese tuna catch 

 varied between 3,909,000 and 13,342,000 pounds annually from 1938 

 to 1951 ■> Bluefin normally provide most of the catch, as indicat- 

 ed by the following data in table 360 



TABLE 36, - PORTUGAL^ UNDINGS OF TUNA AND TUNALIKE FISHES, 1938-19 51 



Most of the tuna catch is canned in oil or sauce and exported. 

 Export data for recent years are given in table 37 « 



Italy has consistently received oirer half of the Portuguese 

 tuna exports before and after World War II « A nuiaber of other 

 countries have also provided well established jaarketso For several 

 years prior to 1951, shipanents to the United States were of fair sizCj 

 but trade dropped to 9,000 pounds in 1951o Exports, by country of 

 destination, are shown in table 380 



A reduction of the tuna catch since 1946, apparently caused by 

 decline of the tuna resources, is of concern to Portuguese fishermen 

 and the Portuguese Government. Portuguese tuna fishing recently has 

 been Umited to about three months a year. May to August, when tuna 



142 



