62 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Of all fish products dried cod is imported in largest quantities at 

 an average rate of 4$758 per dollar. The official statistics of these 

 imports in 1920 are given below. 



Canned fish, such as salmon and sardines, are imported in con- 

 siderable quantities, but these products are not separately classified 

 in the customs returns, being included with preserved fish and ex- 

 tracts unenumerated. No preference is given to any one country in 

 the importation of these products. The main consideration in the 

 purchase of dried cod is the price. During normal times the United 

 States competed favorably with other countries in this trade. A large 

 variety of canned sardines has been imported in the last few years. 

 Importations from the United States, France, Norway, and Portugal 

 have been irregularly made. Canned salmon was formerly imported 

 from the United States in moderate quantities. French, sardines 

 are predominant on the market at the present time. The exclusion 

 of the American products from the Brazilian market to-day is due to 

 the existing unfavorable exchange situation. An advertising cam- 

 paign by an American concern established in this district would 

 materially assist in increasing sales. Sardines are canned by a firm 

 in this city. There are also two small canning factories in the State 

 of Rio de Janeiro, one at Itacurussa and the other at Ilha Grande. 



Following is a report prepared by Dr. George Wilton Field for the 

 American consulate general at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil : 



The most conspicuous event in the fisheries is the awakening to the prejudicial 

 effects of the importation of fish to the neglect of local resources. This importation, 

 with attendant loss by spoilage and unnecessary expense in oceanic transportation 

 which could find more profitable use, is of great economic disadvantage to Brazil. 



The jurisdiction of the fisheries has been transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture 

 to the Ministry of Marine, for the reason that the navy could organize the fishermen 

 as a coast defense and better provide for the enforcement of the laws and for the organi- 

 zation of the fishermen into colonies under the direct supervision of the navy. Thus 

 it would be practicable to insure for them more sanitary living conditions, an organized 

 local government, better primary educational facilities, the necessary capital for 

 improved fishing gear, and special instruction in the methods of capturing fish and pre- 

 paring the product for market. 



To this service the auxiliary cruiser Jose Bonifacio (formerly the Astor yacht 

 Nourmahal) was assigned, in charge of ( 'apt. Frederico Villar, who proceeded to enforce 

 the law vigorously in the States of Maranhao, Para, and Rio de Janeiro. It is prob- 

 able that this work, carried out with sympathetic jutstice and wisdom, will do much 

 for the improvement of the deplorable conditions which were found by this "Com- 

 mission on Fisheries and Sanitation of the Coast, ' ' in the recent exploration of the 

 vast, remote, and barren coastal regions between Belem (Para) and Recife (Pernam- 

 buco), where the main support of the inhabitants is the still unutilized wealth of 

 marine life. In spite of the abundance of fish suitable for marketing (fresh, salted, 

 or smoked), the monthly catch per man, fishing with hand lines from a jangada 

 (a raft provided with a cotton drill sprit sail and a centerboard) rarely exceeds 1,000 

 pounds gross weight of the fresh fish. The sun dried and poorly salted product is sold 

 to middlemen in barter or cash and transported on mule back to the hinterland. 



Near the large coast cities fairly prosperous fisheries exist, but even here the still 

 relatively small catch per man, the crude methods of handling, and the inefficient 



