196 EIGHTH PACIFIC SCIENCE CONGRESS 



however, a cement floored building is used as a v/holesale market. This 

 building does not have sufficient space for handling the total landing 

 nor is it supplied with running water. 



The fisherman delivers his catch at the point of landing to an 

 agent who may auction it on his behalf to wholesalers, retailers and fish 

 curers or may buy it from the fishermen where financial arrangement 

 exists between the agent and fishermen. The wholesalers in turn sell 

 the fish to the retailers who sell it to the consumers. The fish curers 

 mainly export their products. The agent who first receives the fish 

 from the fishermen is the individual who provides finance to the fisher- 

 men. Apart from the collection of sales tax under certain circumstances 

 the Government takes no part whatsoever in this marketing process at 

 any stage. 



Trade: Although there is an overall deficit in the country, in re- 

 stricted areas there is a surplus in fish supply which is particularly due 

 to inadequate facilities of handling and transport. Pakistan exports 

 some of this localised surplus. During 1952 over 10,000 tons of fresh 

 fish were exported to India. The main bulk of it consisted of fresh- 

 water fish and came from East Pakistan. The total export of processed 

 fish stood at 9,635 tons. In addition, during the same year Pakistan ex- 

 ported over 2,000 tons of fish fertilizers, 160 tons of shark fins and fish 

 maws. As against the export, 460 tons of processed fi.sh, 520 tons of 

 fish oils and 173,500 pounds of vitaminous fish oils are shown as having 

 been imported during 1952. The total value of the export trade during 

 1952 stood at 12,300,000 rupees (3.2 million U.S. dollars) whilst that 

 of the import trade during the same year stood at 1,527,000 rupees 

 (500,000 U.S. dollars) . 



Socio-Economics: The economic problems of fishermen in Pakistan 

 concern his methods of production, purchase of domestic and production 

 requirements, provision of credit, and the sale of his produce. The craft 

 and gear and other equipment which the fisherman uses are primitive, 

 inefficient and wasteful though effective in their own way. The middle- 

 men to whom, in many cases, the catch is sold in advance, generally, 

 supply the fishermen with his domestic and production requirements, 

 and with other credit accommodation that he may need. He is compelled 

 more often than not by circumstances of trade to buy dear and sell cheap 

 and thus the fisherman sinks irretrievably into debts. Belonging to an 

 economically and socially backward community, ignorant and unedu- 

 cated, he has generally neither the will nor the means of organising 

 himself for self-emancipation. 



Although the fishermen are impoverished and illiterate, these de- 

 ficiencies of wealth and education may not be presumed to apply to 



