FISHERIES AND GUANO INDUSTRY OF PERU. 355 
sarily high, and ice is at present at almost prohibitive prices. The fishery 
industry everywhere is without that organization and specialization which 
marks the higher stage of development attained in many other countries. 
Each fisherman makes his own nets, conveys his catch to port, sells the fish 
fresh or preserves them by salting or drying for sale at a future time—every- 
thing in an individual way. Experience in other countries shows that economy 
is the result of systematization, and that the middleman, even if characterized 
as the ‘‘necessary evil,’’ may not only keep the market more regularly sup- 
plied but also give the fisherman a better average profit and the consumer a 
lower average price. So in Peru we find the fish when unusually abundant 
thrown away or sold at a very low price, because the fisherman has not the 
means or lacks the energy to preserve a large catch, while the public complain 
of an irregular market and of an excessively high price in ordinary times. I 
have referred to the unusual appreciation of fish-food by Peruvians. Rarely 
is a meal served without fish where it is obtainable, yet to a large part of the 
people beyond the ports this much-prized luxury is seldom to be had. 
Modernizing the fishery is not sought for itself, for many of the original 
Peruvian methods of capture are suited to the natural conditions and best 
adapted to the social nature, the abilities, and the wants of the people. Except 
in Callao and Mollendo, the fishermen are all native Peruvians but slightly 
touched by the wave of modern progress. In attempting to introduce new and 
larger methods, it would be unnecessary and unjust to hamper or antagonize 
a kindly people, poor in wealth but rich in contentment, who are working out 
a peaceful and honorable life after the bent of their nature. The caballito and 
the balsa, the chinchorro and the anchobetera, the camerone traps and other 
native nets may long continue to give satisfactory food to many Peruvians. 
Yet if the native fishermen may be taught to capture their fish more abundantly, 
and to salt and dry them more efficiently, their labors may be the more proéit- 
able and the more useful to them and to others. Furthermore, without preju- 
dice to them, their fisheries may be supplemented by those who can pursue the 
industry in a larger way and with better organization; and this is clearly neces- 
sary if the larger part of the population of Peru is to obtain fish and to have 
it regularly and cheaply. 
The abundant catches of the excellent congrios made with the espinel 
(trawl line or bait line) in the region of Mollendo and the success of this method 
when used in other parts show well that, although relatively laborious, it 
could be more extensively employed to great advantage. The deep bottom 
trawlnets, while not actually tested in Peruvian waters, would in strong proba- 
bility prove successful, and it is much to be desired that experiments be made 
with them. The use of power boats will be necessary, and the introduction 
of these for quick conveyance of fish to market will enable the fishermen to 
