82 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Importation of fishery products at Matanzas, Cuba, Jan. 1 to July 31, 1921. 



Special attention is invited to the large importations of dried cod 

 from Norway, which country now stands second to the United States 

 in exporting this commodity to Cuba. Importations from Norway 

 are increasing, and the product received is regarded in this market as 

 of excellent ciuality. It should also be noted that the proximity of 

 Habana makes it possible for dealers to procure such articles as they 

 do not care to purchase in large c^uantities from wholesale merchants 

 in that market. 



All fishery products of the United States, with the exception of 

 sardines and other fish preserved in oil, are imported in larger quan- 

 tities than from other nations. Until recent years Canada has led 

 the United States in the importation of dried cod, but during the past 

 two years the United States has taken the lead in imports of this 

 article. Whether Canada will again obtain the leadership in the 

 market for dried cod, which is an important article of import, will 

 doubtless depend on the output of Canadian fisheries and whether an 

 effort is made to increase Canadian sales in this market. 



There is a good demand here for such fishery products as are pro- 

 duced for export in Spain, France, and Scandinavia, and as a large 

 part of the merchants here are of Spanish nationality there is a 

 natural tendency for them to purchase Spanish goods whenever the 

 price and quality are comparable to those obtainable from the 

 United States. Spanish and French sardines find favor in this mar- 

 ket. This preference is claimed to be due in some measure to the fish 

 used but principally to the superior oil used in the Spanish and 

 French products. This reasoning applies to all fishery products 

 preserved in oil. 



It is believed that keener competition from Europe and Canada can 

 be looked for in this market and that American exporters should 

 endeavor to prepare themselves to meet this competition and retain 

 the very marked leadership which American fishery products now en- 

 joy here if it is possible to do so. Any propaganda or change in the 

 preparation of canned fishery products sent to this market that will 

 do away with the belief current here that American products of this 

 class are inferior to those from Europe will be helpful. 



ANTILLA. 



(By H. C. von Struvc, coasul, August 29, 1921.] 



This consular district produces no fishery products of any kind 

 except a small quantity of fresh fish, usually not sufficient to amply 

 supply local needs. No fishery products of any kind are exported or 

 reexported. The imports of fishery products into this district as 



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