FISHEBIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS 1^ MEXICO, ETC. 41 



canned to a considerable extent. Sea urchins, known here as 

 '^erizos" {Strongylocentretus alhus), are considered a delicacy. 



Whaling is of some importance at Valdivia and Corral. A com- 

 pany having three small ships has just started business at Dichato 

 near Talcahuano with one of its ships. The whale oil is consumed 

 in Chile, being used mostly for lighting and by the soap factories. 

 The Arauce Railroad, which runs from Concepcion to Curanilahne, 

 consumes a considerable part of this oil for lighting. Considerable 

 oil is also consumed in the soap factories at Concepcion and Coronel. 

 Some whalebone is exported. At Talcahuano there is one old 

 whaling ship, the James Arnolds, which was an old American whaler. 

 It goes out whaling every year, although it is 50 years old. Before 

 the American Civil War Talcahuano was a great port for American 

 whalers. Whales seem to be numerous in the ocean off this part of 

 ChHe. 



At San Vicente, near Talcahuano, there is a very small sardine- 

 canning factory owned by Spaniards. These sardines, although 

 cheap, have a very small sale. Owing to scarcity of tin plate and 

 lack of sale the plant is running at about half capacity. The plant 

 has some very good machinery and equipment. About one and 

 one-half years ago one of the partners went to Europe to buy 

 machinery and to study how sardines are packed. 



The "Boletin de Bosques, Pesca and Caza, " or "Bulletin of 

 Forestry, Fisheries and Game, " published at Santiago, in its Novem- 

 ber (1912) number, volume 1, No. 5, pages 340 and 341, states the 

 following concerning sardines : 



In Chile we have three sardines— the Clupea sagax, commonly known as the 

 Spanish sardine and which ranges in the Pacific from California to the Straits of 

 Magellan, reaching the waters of Japan on the west; the Clupea fueguenis and the 

 Lycengraidis grossidens, which are simply known as sardines. The second is found 

 only in Chilean waters, being abundant south from Talcahuano, and the third in 

 the waters of Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. 



The abundance of these species varies with the latitude. In the northern part 

 of the country it is the Lycengraulis grossidens, which becomes stranded in great 

 nmnbers on the beach during the spring and summer, because pursued during that 

 time by other migratory fish, especially by the pescada {Merlucdus gayi), the jurel 

 (Trachurus picturatus), and the sierra (Thyrsitops lepidopoules). 



The Spanish sardine, whose migrations are not yet well known, does not come 

 very close to the Chilean coast, and to fish for it it is necessary to upe tackle for 

 deep-sea fishing. The canning of the third species has already been successfully 

 commenced in order to supplant the Eiu-opean canned sardine. Unfortunately in 

 sardine canning only a small capital has been employed and the industry has lacked 

 not only skilled workmen but also proper methods of catching the sardines. 



The canning of shellfish is of importance in the extreme southern 

 province of Chile, especially at Calbuco in the Province of Llanquihue, 

 where there are several small canneries of considerable importance. 

 They pack principally mussels, sea urchins, and barnacles. Their 

 product is said to be of good quality. During the World War tin 

 plate was so expensive that a tin can cost more than the selling 

 price of a can of preserved seafood, and the imported salmon and 

 sardines were sold in place of the native products. Now, with 

 cheaper tin plate, it is believed that the canned shellfish of the 

 southern provinces will again find a market. The local branch of 

 an American house has taken the agency to sell the products of some 

 of these canners in order to be able to sell them tin plate. 



