In 19485 Peru started to export small quantities of frozen 

 tunaj by 1950, this trade had reached considerable proportions. 

 Virtually all frozen tuna has been shipped to the United States 

 and has consisted almost exclusively of yellowfin, as shown in 

 table 43 « 



YELLOWFIN (2) (2) 14,378,80.5 14,637,672 4,681,215 

 SKIPJACK (2) (2) - ' ' 767,561 3,733,065 



BONITO (2) (2) ~ 9,482 ~ 



TOTAL 644,963 2,156,490 14,378,805 15,414,715 8,414,280 



1/ January to June 

 2^/ Not available 



The main ports used by the Peruvian tuna industry are Gallao, 

 IlOj, Paita^ and Chinbote, The first cannery was established in 1939, 

 arxi 45 plants were in operation in 1952. Freezing plants, with a 

 daily freezing capacity of 8OO5OOO pounds, were in use in 1951. Cold- 

 storage capacity was 14j,000,006 pounds. In 1952 the fishing fleet 

 engaged in catching tuna consisted of 1,000 vessels operated by 

 about 6,000 fishermen 



The Peruvian Government has shown some interest in developing 

 the tuna industry, although it has done little to improve the lot 

 of the fishermen by education or by providing modern equipment. It 

 has established a Fisheries Technology Laboratory in Callao to dev- 

 elop and test processing methods „ 



CHILE 



Chile's utilization of fish is limited and until 1942 the tuna 

 catch was extremely sinall and of importance only for local consump- 

 tion. The white meat aibacore was considered the fare of the poorest 

 people in the northern ports of Chile. When Americans visiting Chile 

 showed a high regard for the aibacore, the fish became an expensive 

 dish in the best hotels „ 



149 



