52 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



of imported products reexported to those districts was 2,497,860 

 gold pesos ($911,718 normal exchange). The following were the 

 reexports of fishery products: Dried and salted fish, 5,552 gold pesos 

 ($2,026 normal exchange) ; canned salmon, 6,792 gold pesos ($2,479) ; 

 canned sardines, 1,420 gold pesos ($518) ; other canned fish, including 

 shellfish, 1,186 gold pesos ($432). 



Most of the canned salmon consumed in this district is from the 

 United States. Much dried codfish from the United States was 

 sold here during the years of the war, but due to prevailing exchange 

 conditions none is now being imported. An inferior quality of 

 codfish from Japan now is on sale, and the better grades in the 

 local market are from Norway and Scotland. Sardines are imported 

 from Spain principally, the Spanish sardines being preferred to all 

 others except the French, which cost more and consequently are 

 not sold as extensively. Dealers and exporters' agents explain the 

 preference for the Spanish and French sardines on the ground that 

 they are packed in olive oil. During the period of the war there 

 were imports of American sardines, smoked and in tomato sauce 

 and in oil. In pre-war years some Norwegian sardines exported 

 by German concerns were marketed here, and offers of these sardines 

 are again being made by German exporters, at prices lower than the 

 Spanish products. 



Imported fish products are among the food products that have 

 been affected by the business depression prevaiTmg in this district, 

 and the sales at present are limited. Salesmen sent by American 

 exporters to other districts of Chile should visit Punta Arenas; 

 important local concerns are direct importers. American exporters 

 should be prepared to grant to responsible importers the same 

 credit terms obtainable from European houses. Fish products are 

 not subject to customs duty on entering the Territory of Magallanes 

 at Punta Amas. 



VENEZUELA. 



MARACAIBO. 



[By William A. Hickey, vice consul, October 15, 1921.] 



Lake Maracaibo yields a munificent supply of many varieties of 

 fresh and salt water fish, which is consumed by the people of this 

 district. The poorer classes live almost entirely on the fish product 

 of Lake Maracaibo, and many types of fishing craft are daily engaged 

 in supplying the local needs. The principal fishery products of the 

 district are the "corbina," weighing from 3 to 6 pounds and con- 

 sumed by the poor people without much preparation or cure; the 

 "lisa," weighing about 2 pounds and considered by many to be the 

 best eating fish of the district; the " jurel," weight from 2 to 4 pounds. 



The most common method employed by the native fishermen in 

 this vicinity in obtaining the fish product of Lake Maracaibo is by 

 means of large nets. Sailing craft of various types operated by the 

 peons of the district bring the day's catch to market. The fish 

 product of Maracaibo is salted and sun dried before being placed 

 on the market, but the peons consume the lake fish without prepara- 

 tion of any kind. The only fishery product exported from the Mara- 

 caibo consular district is the "corbina." This product is shipped 

 by a Chinese concern of Maracaibo to the United States for trans- 



