THE LOBSTER FISHERY 651 



Table 143. U. S. Imports of Fresh, Frozen, and Cooked Spiny Lobsters 

 (Whole and "Tails"). 



, ^ . . 1948 1947 1946 1945 



Country of Ongm ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ Lbs 



Mexico 2,052,491 1,920,442 1,671,234 1,072,935 



Honduras 6,606 



Br. Honduras 136,264 157,538 79,220 



Nicaragua 406 



Bahamas 1,197,821 1,371,701 1,271,677 1,487,634 



Cuba 1,150,792 425,201 250,100 353,881 



Jamaica 7,150 53,376 



Leeward Islands 2,085 13,587 3,500 



Curacao 1,878 



Fr. W. Indies 7,040 7,004 



Australia 514,290 97,482 



New Zealand 30,410 29,256 



Union of So. Africa 2,657,178 2,236,780 2,564,345 433,600 



Total 7,755,493 6,314,281 6,847,080 3,348,050 



Table 144. Monthly Index of U. S. Imports of Spiny Lobster Tails. 

 (From the Principal Countries) 

 Country from Quantity Im- Per cent Received per Month, 1948 



Total 7,755,593 7 16 13 4 5 2 7 2 7 7 15 15 100 



Note: Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and Leeward Islands were not included in the 

 index since their shipments were insignificant. 



season for the Bahamas runs from October to March, while Cuba's shipping period is 

 longer — July to December, with smaller amounts coming in during January, February, 

 and March. Shipments of frozen spiny lobster tails from South Africa may be made 

 throughout the year. The bulk of the shipments were made from December to May in 

 1947, but in 1948 there was no outstanding month. 



"In prewar years over 400,000 pounds of canned spiny lobster meat from Cuba, 

 Union of South Africa, and the British West Indies were imported into the United 

 States. During 1945 and 1946 Cuba was the only shipper and exported to the United 

 States over 450,000 pounds of canned meat. The imports dropped drastically in 1947, 

 when only 136,509 pounds of spiny lobster meat entered this country. However, imports 

 for 1948 more than doubled the 1945 imports and amounted to 1,037,710 pounds, vdth 

 South Africa again leading. Small quantities were shipped from New Zealand, Guatemala, 

 and China (Table 145, p. 652)." 



