The tuna canning plant at Beaufort, South Carolina, which has 

 been mentioned, is a possible outlet for tuna production in this 

 area. This operation is being carried on now in part with landings 

 of Pacific tuna boats of the United States fleet and some little 

 tuna from the Gulf and Atlantic States o A building for a tiina 

 canning plant has been erected at Moss Point, Mississippi. 

 Present plans are for this 20-ton-a-day plant to begin operation 

 early in 195i+» Two canneries, one of 30-ton daily capacity and 

 another of l50-ton dai]y capacity, are planned in Puerto Rico. 

 At present it is not possible to estimate the importance of these 

 projects to the development of a Gulf of Mexico tuna fishery. 

 These canneries are expected to operate on fish obtained from the 

 Pacific but would also serve as a market for production of the less 

 distant Atlantic fishing grounds if these are developed. 



Gulf shrimp canneries may be converted to part- or full-time 

 operation on tuna without great difficulty. But the capacities 

 after conversion would not be great (generally less than 30 tons 

 daily) and, in comparison with the most modern tuna canneries, 

 efficiency would be lowo 



PORTS AMD COLD STORAGE FACILITIES 



There are numerous ports on the Gulf doast possessing 

 adequate facilities for small craft which might enter a localized 

 tujia fishery. Those now serving the shrimp fleet can accomjuodate 

 the needs of these smaller vessels. Costs of vessel maintenance 

 are comparatively low in the region. Facilities for handling 

 large tuna seiners or clippers are limited although several deep- 

 water ports could be used as bases for even the largest bait boats. 

 Dry-docking facilities are available at New Orleans, Mobile, 

 Pensacola, and Galveston for the larger craft. It could be expected 

 that, if the need arose, supplies and maintenance facilities for 

 tuna boats would be increased to meet the needs of a fleet wishing 

 to base on the Gulf. Puerto Rico has hai^bors capable of handling 

 the largest tuna boats, and at least a minimum of servicing and 

 supply facilities are available to meet the trip needs of vessels 

 ranging into the Caribbean. 



Facilities for storage of frozen tuna in the Gulf Area are 

 adequate to handle considerable quantities at some seasons of the 

 year. Some competition for freeser space has been normal in the 

 early winter and it is occasionally necessary for fish producers 



260 



