74 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



merly had 11 trawlers but sold them to Russia at the beginning of the 

 European war. 



In spite of countless difficulties the first estimate of the potential 

 fishing capacity of this nation was made in 1920. Of course, the 

 maritime zone of the Province of Buenos Aires is the one occupying 

 the largest place in the fishing industry, there being 784 men engaged 

 in fishing therein, besides an additional number of 150 men who take 

 charge of the land work connected with fishing. Although these 

 numbers are not very small, only 15 per cent of the men engaged are 

 of Argentine nationality and 74 per cent carry on their activities in 

 the zone around Mar del Plata. It has been estimated that the capital 

 invested in the whole of the maritime zone of Buenos Aires amounts 

 to $885,655, Argentine paper ($386,049 United States currency). 

 Of this amount 83 per cent corresponds to the value of the craft em- 

 ployed, 136 of which are motor vessels, with a total capacity of 1,006 

 metric tons. There are 82 sailing vessels, with a total capacity of 

 279 metric tons. The smaller craft number 161 vessels. 



The means employed in the Patagoniati zone are not as important 

 as the above. There are only 58 fishermen, 20 per cent of whom are of 

 Argentine nationality. There are also employed in land work 25 

 people in the preserve factories and other works. The capital invested 

 in tliis large zone is very small, amounting to $142,445, Argentine 

 paper ($59,547 United States currency). Of this amount 18 per cent 

 corresponds to the value of the craft employed, 3 of which are motor 

 vessels, with a total capacity of 17 tons. There are 11 sailing vessels, 

 with a total capacity of 19 metric tons, the smaller craft numbering 

 10 minor vessels. Thus the national maritime fisheries have a total 

 investment of $1,028,100, Argentine paper ($445,596 United States 

 currency) . 



Regarding the river fisheries, which have not as yet a very great 

 importance, it has been estimated that in the zone of the Rio de la 

 Plata there are 147 people engaged in fishing, 20 of these being en- 

 gaged in operations on land. However, the proportion of Argentine 

 citizens is greater than in the maritime zone, as only 20 per cent of 

 the total number of persons engaged are aliens. It must be specially 

 borne in mind that the total capital invested in this zone amounts 

 to $82,638 Argentine paper. Of this amount 27 per cent corresponds 

 to the value of the craft employed, 8 of which are motor vessels, 

 with a total capacity of 15 metric tons. There are 8 sailing vessels, 

 with a total capacity of 15 metric tons. The smaller craft number 

 38 minor vessels. 



There are 777 fishermen on the Parana River, only 4 of whom 

 are permanently engaged in land work, 15 per cent of this total being 

 Argentine citizens. The capital invested in this zone amounts to 

 $144,006 Argentine paper. Of this amount, 41 per cent corresponds 

 to the value of the craft employed, 242 of which are sailing vessels, 

 with a total capacity of 280 metric tons. There are seven motor 

 vessels, with a total capacity of 28 metric tons. The smaller craft 

 number 77 minor vessels. 



There are 56 fishermen in the Uruguay River zone, 6 of whom are 

 engaged in permanent land work, 66 per cent of the total being Ar- 

 gentine citizens. The capital invested amounts to only $20,541 

 Argentine paper. Of this amount 62 per cent corresponds to the value 

 of the craft employed, three of which are motor vessels, with a total 



