98 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The average daily consumption, of fresh fish in Port of Spain, the 

 leading town of Trinidad, is approximately 5,000 pounds, or about 

 1 pound for every 10 persons. Such consumption of fresh fish seems 

 very small, considering the plentiful supply as well as excellent 

 quality of fish in surrounding waters. In competition, however, 

 with beef from Venezuela and salt fish from Canada, the local fresh 

 fish is usually higher in price, due to lack of sufficient organization 

 and equipment in the industry. At present fresh fish in the Port 

 of Spain market sells for 18 cents per pound, while beef from cattle 

 brought down the Orinoco River in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, 

 sells for only 15 cents per poimd, and salted cod from Canada for 

 14 cents per pound. 



Salt cod from Canada is one of the most staple articles of diet in 

 this colony. The imports of fish of all kinds from Canada, but 

 including chiefly salt cod, amounted to $688,195 in 1919 as compared 

 with $438,369 in 1918 and $472,195 in 1917. The imports of fish 

 from the United States include chiefly canned salmon and to a less 

 extent canned lobsters, shrimp, oysters, etc. The total value of 

 fish imported from the United States in 1919 was $13,185. American 

 camied^fish is always in better demand in the local market than the 

 canned fish of other countries, except that a few specialties, such as 

 sardines, are supplied from France, Spain, Portugal, and Norway. 



There is considerable local consumption of a small variety of oys- 

 ters, which grow on mangrove trees under tide level along the coast 

 of the Gulf of Paria. Shrimp are also plentiful. Large numbers of 

 turtles are sold locally. These make an excellent soup, which is one 

 of the favorite dishes of the West Indies, and turtle fins and turtle 

 cutlets also have an important place in West Indian cooking. 



No fish is exported from Trinidad, except such imported fish as 

 may be distributed from here to neighboring West Indian Islands or 

 to Venezuela. 



CURACAO. 



[By B. S. Rairden, consul, September 5, 1921.] 



In the district of Curacao, with a population of less than 35,000, 

 the fishing industry is of little importance, and deep-sea fishing is 

 carried on by perhaps 20 fishing boats of from 3 to 5 tons each and 

 quite a fleet oi small "canoes" catching sufficient to meet the local 

 demands but not sufficient for export. 



The larger fishing boats, leaving the harbor before daylight, fish 

 by lines and nets, the larger fish bemg caught by lines and the smaller 

 in nets. The boats generally return before dark and dispose of their 

 catch to fish dealers, who make their purchases from the boats. 

 The fish caught are the usual tropical sea fish, such as bass, dolphm, 

 mullet, and many for which names are not known and many which 

 are considered poor food. The "canoe" fishing is done entirely 

 with lines; small fish are generally caught and disposed of in the 

 smaller harbors along the coast of the island. Much of the fish 

 caught is salted and sold locally in the markets after bemg cured. 

 It can be said that none of the fish supply is exported, except what 

 is sold to the vessels in the harbor. Such fish sold amounts to about 

 $1,000 per year for the fresh product and $1,600 per year for the 

 salted fish. 



