870 RKPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIP]S. 



l)ut foi- 1S1»8 to lSi)7 iire in the fluctuatino- Spanisli cuiTencv. which 

 avonigod in value ubout (50 cents on the dolhir: 



" Data for 1898 are not attainable, on aceount of tlie war. 



Thi.s tal>le sIioavs a hirge decrease in tiie importations of iisherv 

 products durino- the past four years. This is partly, perhaps chiefly, 

 accounted for by the great destruction of property and loss of life 

 caused ])v the hurricane of August S, 1S!»0. The cofl'ee districts of the 

 western and southeru parts of the island , which are the largest consumers 

 of itnported fishery products, were the heaviest sufferers from the hur- 

 ricane. Under the most favorable conditions recovery from such dis- 

 aster is necessarily slow, as several j^ears are required for the planting 

 and maturing of coffee trees. The very low prices for coffee discour- 

 aged planters and pi-evented capitalists from advancing iinancial aid to 

 the impoverished native coffee-planters. In the opinion of some the 

 generally improved conditions in the island have enabled the people to 

 buy better food, hence the decrease in importations of dried fish. Labor 

 of all kinds, city and country, has been in steady demand at increased 

 wages over those received under Spanish rule. With increased incomes 

 a more varied food is said to be in demand at the expense of fish 

 products, which for many years furnished so impoilant a part of the 

 diet of the natives. The decrease in fishery imports has probably 

 been in part from both causes. As time restores the devastated .sec- 

 tions to normal conditions, with continued prosperity, the demand 

 for fish products ma}^ equal that of former years. 



Trade conditions in receiving and handling fish products show few 

 changes. Of the imports 5MJ per cent are dry fish and 10 per cent 

 pickled, smoked, and canned. The proportion of dry lish is about 90 

 per cent cod, 7 per cent haddock, and 3 per cent hake. Honeless fish 

 have been received in small shipments. JJesides being more expensive, 

 these products have usually been imperfectly cured, and are therefore 

 not received with favor, and future shipnuMits are not encouraged. 



Canned .sardines from Europe are quite largely used, the imports in 

 1902 being valued at $12,091:, while those from the United States 

 amounted to only $2,185. 



All dry fish intended for this market should be thoroughly and well 

 cured and dried. The ])est keeping season is said to be January, Feb- 

 ruary, and March. The largest demand for dry and ])i(kled fish is 

 from Octol)cr to February, inclusive. 



Since the occupation of the island l)y the United States .several of 

 the custom-houses under Spanish I'uie have been discontinued. At 



