FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 81 

 Importation offish products into Cuba, 1918 and 1919 — Continued. 



MATANZAS. 



[By C. B. Hosmer, vice consul, August 30, 1921.) 



Only fresh fish are supplied to the local market in this consular 

 district by means of local industry, A sufficient amount of very 

 good fresh fish to supply Matanzas and the surrounding territory is 

 brought in by local fishermen each day. Only a sufficient supply to 

 meet the demand each day is caught, as in this climate fresh fisn must 

 be used at once, and even with refrigeration it is not desirable as 

 food after a short time. The fishermen use small fishing schooners, 

 sailboats, and rowboats for their vi^ork and are provided with nets, 

 lines, and other accouterments necessary to take the fish which 

 abound in these waters. No effort is made to cure any of the fish 

 brought into this port, and any surplus becomes waste, although this 

 seldom occurs. 



No fishery products are exported, as would necessarily be the case 

 from the facts akeady stated, and no such products are reexported, 

 except possibly some chance shipment which has been refused by its 

 consignee. As in practically all parts of Latin America, cured fish, 

 and particularly dried cod, is one of the chief articles of diet in Cuba 

 and IS therefore a large import in Matanzas as in other Cuban ports. 



I am advised by the customs authorities of this port that there 

 has been a very marked change in the proportion of fishery products 

 imported into Cuba from foreign countries during the past two years 

 and that the latest published statistics — that is, for the fiscal year 

 July 1, 1918, to July 1, 1919 — would give a very erroneous idea of 

 the subject. The collector of customs has therefore very kindly 

 compiled the statistics for the first seven months of 1921 for this 

 report and informs me that while he is not in a position to furnish 

 these statistics for 1920 he can assure me that they are in virtually 

 the same proportion, though much larger in volume, than the first 

 seven months of this year. 



