APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
shipped to fresh fish markets and to institutional retail 
markets. 
In terms of commercial prices, red snapper is about 
twice as valuable as grouper. The average U.S. red snapper 
price increased from 24 cents a pound in 1952 to 56 cents 
a pound in 1972. Average grouper prices increased from 
about 10 cents a pound in the early 1950s to 26 cents a 
pound any 972F 
As with many fisheries in recent years, the total value 
(amount paid to the fishermen) of the landings has increased, 
despite decreased total landings. The exvessel price for 
each pound of snapper has increased markedly since 1965 and 
for grouper ‘since 1971. 
The levels of imports of red snapper and grouper are 
also important in determining price through their effect 
on the available supply on the market. Imports of accept- 
able quality to satisfy domestic consumers will be important 
as long as they can be purchased at a price equal to domes- 
tic prices or at a price lower than that paid for domestic 
landings. Existing import data on both snapper and grouper 
are not of a quality to be useful in econometric analyses 
because data has not been continuously recorded over time 
at each U.S. port. In addition, the numerous product forms 
imported makes comparable measurements of the total pounds 
of snapper and grouper imported difficult. 
The recorded imports of snapper into the Gulf States 
from 1952 to 1972 are shown on the following page. 
A large portion of the imported red snapper and snapper 
fillets enter at Port Isabel-Brownsville, Texas. Miami, 
Florida, is the leading port for grouper imports and Port 
Isabel-Brownsville is second. In several of the most recent 
years, Miami appears to have increased its role in importing 
Snapper fillets. 
Grouper imports recorded have also been considerable 
and in a similarly diverse product form as red snapper. 
Import classifications include grouper, grouper fillets, 
steaks, chunks, chips, throats, fingers, heads, and breasts. 
For the 1952-72 period, grouper fillets imported totaled 
13.1 million pounds, whereas steaks and grouper totaled 0.92 
and 0.48 million pounds, respectively. Annual imports of 
grouper fillets have ranged as high as 3.0 million pounds 
(1972) and have been the most consistent product form imported. 
Since 1968 steak imports have not been recorded and grouper 
imports lessened, whereas grouper fillet imports have remained 
substantial. 
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