July 1951 



COI^ERCIAL FISHERIES REVIS'i'/ 



47 



Portugal 



AZORES ISLAKDS FISHING INDUSTRY : Since I929 the canned fish industry in the 

 Azores Islands nas been steadily increasing, states a IVIay 17 American consular dis- 

 patch from Ponta Delgada in the Azores. These islands are now considered a province 

 of Portugal. 



There are at present 5 large and 6 small canneries, the principal ones being 

 located on the islands of Sao Miguel and Terceira. They emyloy about 60 motor 

 launches (with a crew of 1,200 fishermen) and a number of other small boats. Vftien 

 the industry is at its height the total nxomber of persons employed is estimated 

 around 2,500 persons, including fishermen, some of whom are recruited from I.,adeira 

 Island for their superior skill. Tuna is the principal fish used for canning, 

 though "bonito," a fish resembling a small tuna and the size of a good mackerel, is 

 also largely used as are mackerel, pilchard, and sardines whenever large quantities 

 are available. 



Normal production is estimated at 1,500 metric tons per annum, however, the 

 production in I949 was considered the best in recent years with a total estimated 

 production of 1,000 metric tons of canned fish, valued at about $1,000,000. The 

 bulk of the Azorean canned fish is exported to the United States, Italy, France, 

 Switzerland, Belgium and to a limited extent Brazil. 



There are no statistics available showiD.g the total catch of fish in these is- 

 lands, but figures furnished by the Captain of the Port's office at Ponta Delgada, 

 covering the island of Sao Miguel, indicate that 6,17/^42? pounds of fish, valued 

 at :t237,896, were caught by fiahermsn of that Island in I95O. 



AZOmS WHALING IHDUSTRY : Whaling, one of the oldest industries, has contrlD- 

 uted considerably to the economic benefit of the Azores Islands. It is now an es- 

 tablished activity on almost every 

 island, especially Sao Miguel, where 

 there is one good modem plant for 

 the production of sperm oil, ferti- 

 lizers, fish meal, and what is 

 termed "ivory from the teeth of the 

 cachalot." With the exception of 

 a limited quantity of fertilizer 

 and ivory used in the manufacture 

 of souvenirs for the tourijt trade, 

 all other products are exported to 

 foreign markets. There are no re- 

 cent figures indicating the produc- 

 tion of whale oil in the Islands, 

 but Table 1 indicates the impor- 

 tance of the industry on the Island 

 of Sao Miguel. 



For a period during I949 and 

 1950 whaling was suspended because 

 of lack of capital and space to 

 store sperm oil. Because there" was 



no market for this oil in I949 and early in I95O, inventories could not be moved. 



However, after the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in mid-1950, both European and 



American markets offered prices which permitted the resumption of lAaling activities 



after stocks on hand were exported. 



