FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 67 



handle the products of the country with whose language and customs 

 they are familiar. Furthermore, lower prices not infrequently are 

 quoted on Portuguese fishery products than on competitive goods 

 from other countries. Local dealers also make the complaint that 

 American canned goods do not withstand the Santos climate, in that 

 the tins rust badly, which greatly injures the sale of the goods and 

 often causes complete loss. 



The high rate of exchange made impossible the profitable importa- 

 tion of fishery products from the United States during the year 1921. 

 The Brazilian paper milreis, which has a normal average value of 

 about 25 cents, declined to an average value of about 13 cents 

 for the year 1921, and is now being quoted at 14 cents. American 

 dried codfish is, however, still imported to a limited extent, and also 

 a small quantity of canned salmon, but practically all other American 

 fishery products have been driven temporarily from this market. 

 This trade probably can not be regained until the milreis is again 

 quoted at a rate approximating its normal average value. The use 

 of a rust-resisting container by American packers would also be 

 instrumental in reestablishing and retaining the market for American 

 canned fish. 



Codfish packed in earthenware containers enjoys a discount of 40 

 per cent from the duties; when packed in barrels, a discount of 30 per 

 cent. Unclassified fish enjoys a discount of 10 per cent in duties 

 when packed in casks, tubs, or cases. Exporters should secure exact 

 information as to duties from the nearest Brazilian consulate in the 

 United States and carefully follow the instructions of the local im- 

 porter as to manner of packing. 



PORTO ALEGRE. 



[By Samuel T. Lee, consul, September 14, 1921.] 



The local fishery products in the Porto Alegre Consular District 

 are the various kinds of subtropical salt-water fish taken chiefly at 

 Rio Grande (do Sul) , as well as a few shrimp and occasionally a few 

 low-grade oysters from Santa Catharina. Small seines are used 

 chiefly, and the amount of fish taken supplies the markets of the 

 larger port cities of the district. When there is an abundant catch, 

 some are salted and dried and a smaller amount canned. The entire 

 product is consumed locally, and fish has never figured as an article 

 of export from this consular district. The industry is carried on in a 

 most primitive manner and on a small scale. 



Codfish is the only sort of salt fish imported into this market. It 

 comes from Norway, through England, is not boneless, and is packed 

 in boxes of 30 and 60 kilos, or 66 and 132 pounds. A number of pro- 

 vision dealers import Norwegian codfish occasionally from England, 

 but one firm deals exclusively in codfish and distributes it to the 

 various markets of Brazil. They are large importers and occasion- 

 ally receive cargoes running from 20,000 to 30,000 boxes. 



Herring and anchovies are the leading kinds of pickled fish im- 

 ported into this market. The herring come chiefly from Holland 

 and are packed in tins of 1 dozen and of 50. Anchovies come 

 from Holland and Spain and are packed in tins holding 50 fish. The 

 trade in pickled and smoked fish is limited, and these lines are con- 



