FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 29 



1 Retail prices stated in Colombian currency- 

 rency, prevailing exchange. 



-100 centavos or 1 peso equals 86 cents. United States cur- 



The only fish product imported from countries other than the 

 United States is canned sardines. The French and Norwegian brands 

 can be obtained in choicer varieties than is the case with similar 

 American products, so local dealers state. There is no reexport of 

 imported products from this district. 



In view of the importance of the fishing industry at this and near- 

 by points, as well as the relative cheapness of local fishery products 

 as compared with those imported, it is doubtful whether much 

 additional impetus can be given to the introduction of such products 

 from the United States. The interior districts of Colombia, however, 

 are unable to obtain fresh fish from the coast and should offer unusual 

 opportunities for trade extension in this line of goods, provided the 

 needs of the consumers and dealers in those sections of the country 

 can be ascertained and satisfied. 



BARHANQUILLA. 



[By Edmund B. Montgomery, vice consul, December 9, 1921.] 



Fish products constitute a very important part of the daily food 

 consumption of this vicinity. Sea fish from Puerto Colombia and 

 Salgar are in the greatest demand, though a kind of river fish known 

 as lisa" is consumed in large quantities by the poorer classes. It 

 is estimated by the department of statistics that about 1,000 pounds 

 of fish arrive at the market in Barranquilla daily from various sources. 

 The principal products for local consumption are sea fish known as 

 lebrancho, robalo, mojorra, sierra, chivo, bonito, and the river fish 

 lisa. Most of these are consumed shortly after being caught, though 

 a considerable amomit of salt fish is also sold. In addition to fish 

 other sea food, such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and oysters are also 

 sold in varying quantities. Sea fish are caught at Salgar and Puerto 

 Colombia, the former being 14 and the latter 17 miles by rail from 

 Barranquilla. These fish are brought daily to the Barranquilla 

 market for sale. 



River fish are caught in the Magdalena River by native fishermen 

 and brought in canoes to the market, which is connected by a canal 

 with the river. Fish may be bought either from the market or from 

 canoes and other small river craft which line up along the banks of 

 the canal at the market. Fish bought directly from the river boats 

 can be obtained at slightly lower prices than those prevailing in the 

 market. The river fish "lisa" are sold at 5 cents each, or in quanti- 

 ties for 2 and 3 cents each. Fish products are crudely cured by 

 cleaning, salting, and allowing to dry in the sun for about two days. 

 Cured in this manner they keep for about two weeks. Most fish, 

 however, are sold shortly after being caught, without being cleaned 



