bonito are listed as the principal varieties » A scientific booklet, 

 published by the Hunting and Fishing Division of the Brazilian ICn- 

 istry of Agriculture, states that these species are particularly 

 s-citable for smoking » 



Although tuna has been reported as abundant off the northern 

 coast of Brazils most fish processing plants are located in the southj 

 principally in the States of Rio de Janeiro ;, Rio Grande do Sul, and 

 Sao Paulo, Of the 120 establishaents registered^ 45 are devoted to 

 canning and 75 to salting. Probably little or no tuna is processed. 



Cfeitral Aiiejdxa 



COSTA RICA 



Large quantities of tunaj, mostly yellowfin and skipjack, occur 

 in Pacific, waters off Costa Rica, Tuna fisheries could be operated 

 on a large seals from Costa Rican bases by native fishermen, but there 

 seems to be little interest in expanding present actiiritieso About 

 250 Costa Ricans are employed on American tuna boats. Other Costa 

 Risan fishermsn number less than 100° these fishermen Operate from 

 Puntarenas with about 10 powered vessels and 50 small canoes and 

 sailboats, 



TJ18 port of Puntarenas with its sheltered harbor 5, ship stores, 

 and marine ways and machine shops, is a natural center for fishing 

 acitivity. In 1936 a freezing plant was established at the port with 

 United States capital and machineryi this plant =— one of the larg- 

 est in Central America '=- is presently leased ta & California tuna- 

 processing conpanyo Freezing operations, begun in 1937 on a small 

 scale, attained an output of 7,285,320 pounds in 1938, Subsequent 

 output has vaided considerably, but reached its peak in 1950 with 

 9j,69i,630 pounds. The tuna handled by this plant has been brought 

 in mainly by UrJ.ted States vessels, and after being frozen was 

 shipped to the Uni-^:ed States „ 



In 1942 a small Calif ormiia-type cannery was established at 

 Puntarenas and operated in connection with the freezing plant. The 

 cannery's maximum capacity is said to be 100,000 cases per year, 

 and the pack is reported to be of excellent quality. Some is con- 

 sumed in Costa Ricaj the bulk, however, is exported principally to 

 Latin->Amerioaa coi^ntries, 



154 



