FISHERIES AND MARKET FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN MEXICO, ETC. 99 



The importation of salt-cured fish into Curacao amounts to about 

 $7,000 annually, imported entirely from Venezuela, and business in 

 salt codfish, amounting to $3,600 annually, is done almost entirely 

 with the United States. So far as known no imported fishery 

 products are reexported. 



Statistics of canned goods imported do not specify the different 

 kinds of articles under this heading. The total value of canned 

 goods imported for the past year amounted to $114,000, $86,000 

 worth of which came from the United States. Such goods imported 

 from the United States are fish, fruits, and meats, while most of the 

 canned goods coming from Europe and Great Britain, mainly from 

 Holland, are vegetables. France and Spain, it is reputed, have the 

 bulk of the business in sardines. Dried (salt) codfish is imported 

 principally from the United States, and the bulk of the food products 

 imported are also from the American market. 



At the present time the high rate of exchange preven.ts an increase 

 in American imports, but the importers are favorably mclmed 

 toward American busmess, and it is believed in time such busmess 

 will show up well in this colony. ^Many of the merchants in this 

 district have good connections with American firms and are waiting 

 a more favorable exchange to renew business in American goods. 

 In the meantime I would strongly advise our exporters to send their 

 representatives through the West Indies and South American coun- 

 tries to endeavor to make further good business connections and 

 compete with the slowly increasing German trade. 



JAMAICA. 

 KINGSTON. 



[By William W. Heard, vice consul, December 8, 1921.] 



The Island of Jamaica depends almost entirely on outside sources 

 for fish and fish products. Slight activity is evidenced in catching fish 

 for local consumption, and this effort is so haphazard that a plentiful 

 supply of fresh fish in the important coast towns, such as Kmgston, 

 Port Antonio, and Montego Bay, is a rarity. The fishing around 

 Kmgston has been carried on in such a ruthless manner that few 

 fish, if any, are left in the waters forming the harbor, an area of 

 approximately 26 square miles. It is therefore safe to say that there 

 is no fishing industry in Jamaica. 



The following table shows the imports of quantities and values of 

 the different kinds of fish imported into Jamaica for the half year 

 ending June 30, 1921; conversions made at $4 to the pound sterling. 



The greatest demand is for salt fish. This is usually packed in 

 tierces containing 450 pounds and consists of three grades — bank 



