Costa Rica is a logical base for both United States and Costa 

 Rican vessels, and possible development of larger shore facilities 

 (shops and freezing plants) may eventually oake it the center of 

 the tuna industry in the eastern Pacific o During the past few 

 years United States tuna clippers have tended to base more and more 

 of their activities at Puntarenas during the peak January to June 

 fishing season off Costa Rica. 



EL SALVADOR 



El Salvador, the smallest and most densely populated of the 

 Central American republics, has a Pacific coast line exposed to the 

 full sweep of the Pacific oceanic currents. At times vast schools 

 of tuna and tunalike fishes are seen migrating not too far from 

 shore. These and other pelagic species occur in greatest abundance 

 from June to September; during this time the fishermen of El Sal- 

 vador land a considerable quantity of fish for personal use and for 

 the local market. No detailed statistics are available to ascer- 

 tain how much are tuna, and no export statistics are given from 

 which deductions could be made. 



The possibilities for tuna production in El Salvador are 

 limited because of the short coast line, the seasonal occurrence 

 of fish, the lack of trained fishermen, and the lack of efficient 

 boats and gear. Four cold-storage plants are located in El Salvador; 

 these plants are capable of handling limited quantities of tuna for 

 local consumption. 



GUATEMALA 



Very little is known about the fish resources of Gruatemala. 

 Along its Pacific coast schools of tuna are common 30 or more miles 

 from shore, close inshore their occurrence is sporadic. Suitable 

 harbors for basing a fishing fleet, refrigeration or processing 

 plants, and seaworthy boats, such as the tuna industry requires, do 

 not exist along Guatemala's west coast. 



The Caribbean coast of Guatemala offers more favorable fish- 

 ing conditions and better harbor protection than the Pacific coast. 

 Tuna occur infrequently, however, and little opportunity for dev- 

 eloping a tuna industry exists. 



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