FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 97 



Pickled fish in 200-pound barrels, preserved fish in 1-pound tins, 



salt fish in 112-pound drums, and smoked fish in 12 to 28 pound 



boxes. 



TRINIDAD. 



[By Henry D. Baker, consul, September 5, 1921.] 



The waters about the coast of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago 

 are noted for abundance of fish, especially around the Bocas Islands 

 in the straits between the northwestern part of Trinidad and the 

 Venezuelan mainland and connecting the Caribbean sea with the 

 Gulf of Paria. The Island of Chacachacare is the center of the 

 local fishing industry around surrounding small islands and banks. 



A well-known local work on ''The Sea Fish of Trinidad," by 

 Harry Vincent, gives a classified list of 85 species of food fishes and 

 31 species not used for food. Of the food fishes 15 are ranked as of 

 superior quality, 34 of good quality, and 36 of inferior quaUty. The 

 fish of superior quality include the following: 



In the vicinity of the Bocas Islands during the months of June, 

 July, and August the fishermen frequently catch in their seines 

 schools of fish rangmg from 10, 000 to 20,000 pounds' weight, chiefly 

 "cavalli" and ^'paoua," considered of good but not superior class of 

 local fish. These can be kept alive for some days in the seine, 

 hauling the ends ashore and mooring the back of the bag or purse 

 to a boat anchored out. Apparently the Bocas fishing grounds 

 would be impracticable for trawling on account of the rocky bottom 

 and reefs. Nevertheless, in the Gmf of Paria and in other adjacent 

 waters there would seem to be good opportunities for steam trawling 

 not now availed of. The local supply of sea food at present is de- 

 pendent upon irregular efforts of fishermen and not upon any well- 

 organized industry with sufficient capital and equipment. The 

 kingfish, mackerel, and jackfish of Trinidad might be salted and cured 

 to considerable advantage, but this is not done here, although such 

 cured fish is produced in Venezuela and sent here. 



