FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 45 



United States currency, to the gold peso, which is the rate declared by 

 the United States Treasury ; but the value of the gold peso fluctuates, 

 now being about 29 cents. A great deal of canned fish, is sold to the 

 people of the poorer class, who often buy a can of salmon or sardines 

 for lunch or dinner instead of eating a regular meal. The market for 

 imported canned fish has grown considerably in recent years. During 

 the World War the imported article supplanted the domestic canned 

 shellfish produced in the southern provinces, as the tin plate for a can 

 cost as much as selling price of the can of fish. Now, with cheaper 

 tin plate, it is possible that the lower-priced domestic canned shellfish 

 may to some extent take the place of salmon and sardines in this 

 part of Chile. 



American salmon is supreme in this market, and all merchants unite 

 in declaring it excellent, of fine quality, and of excellent reputation. 

 Almost all the salmon now comes from the United States, principally 

 from San Francisco, although some formerly came from other coun- 

 tries. There is a large demand for it here. It is necessary for it to be 

 "Red label," and the popular size is the 1-pound tin. The two 

 classes which are principally sold are the "pink" and "chum." 

 Also red salmon is sold, but the price is much higher, and only the 

 rich people >3an buy it. The wholesale price of salmon is 7 pesos gold, 

 or about $2.03 United States currency, per dozen, with 8 per cent 

 discount, dispatched at Talcahuano. The salmon comes in cases of 4 

 dozen 1-pound cans. 



Canned salmon pays imder tariff No. 27 an import duty of 0.25 

 gold peso per kilo, or $4.14 per 100 pounds gross weight. The import 

 duty was not increased by the recent tariff increase. The importations 

 of salmon have increased, considerably during the last few years. The 

 detailed statistics for 1919 and 1920 follow: 



