55 



Brazil (Contd.): 



The fish sold through this system are be- 

 ing priced at about 34 U. S. cents a pound and 

 less. Chickens cost about 50 U. S. cents a 

 pound. There are 16 such mobile units with 

 refrigeration equipment operating in and 

 around Salvador. The Governor explained 

 that these mobile markets help keep prices 

 down in stores around the city selling simi- 

 lar products. He claimed that, politically, 

 the impact of these mobile markets and sta- 

 tionary government -operated markets had 

 been more important to him than his highway 

 development program, water works program, 

 electrical program, and even his educational 

 program. 



The markets operate at cost. Prices cover 

 expenses and amortization of equipment. A 

 1 percent sales commission is given to driv- 

 ers of the mobile units, and this has been suf- 

 ficient incentive for them to keep the units 

 operating well. (U. S. Consulate, Salvador, 

 Oct. 3, 1966.) 



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JAPANESE WHALING TO 

 INCREASE OFF BRAZIL 



The Japanese expect to double the take of 

 whales off Brazil this year. Recently, a 

 North Brazilian fishing company was estab- 

 lished jointly by a Japanese company with 

 Brazilian capital. In the past, the take of 

 whales (mostly sei) was about 120 a year. By 

 August 1966, 150 whales had been killed and 

 the take was expected to total 250 by the end 

 of the season in November. Two factors are 

 believed to have contributed to the larger 

 catch: purchase of the whaler "Koyo Maru" 

 from another Japanese company and use of 

 that vessel's gunner; and a move to new 

 whaling grounds. 



With the decrease in the Antarctic whale 

 quota, Japan must attempt to satisfy the do- 

 mestic demand for meat and other whale 

 products in 2 ways: by developing resources 

 such as those off Brazil, and continued in- 

 tense whaling activities in the North Pacific, 

 the China Sea, and elsewhere. (Fishery At- 

 tache, U. S. Embassy, Tokyo, Sept. 29,1966.) 



Ecuador 



rUNA CANNERY CEASES OPERATIONS 



A tuna cannery that is a subsidiary of a 

 U. S. firm at Manta, Ecuador, ceased oper- 

 ations in late September 1966 due to a short- 

 age of bait fish along the Ecuadorian Coast. 

 The Directorate -General of Hunting and Fish- 

 ing recently asked Manta tuna vessel fisher- 

 men to limit their bait -fishing activities to 

 the area outside the bay in the vicinity of 

 Bahia and Caraquez. Small-boat operators 

 accused the tuna vessel operators and the 

 canning firms of having fished out traditional 

 bait -fish resources and asked for more gov- 

 ernment protection for their inshore fishing 

 grounds. Part of the problem was related to 

 the limited range of the Ecuadorian tuna fish- 

 ing vessels. (U. S. Consul, Quito, Oct. 7, 

 1966.) 



Peru 



FISH MEAL PRODUCTION 

 AND SUPPLIES ARE HIGH 



Peruvian fish meal production for Septem- 

 ber 1966 was estimated at 100,000 to 120,000 

 metric tons, compared to 17,100 tons for 

 September 1965. Exports for the first half 

 of September 1966 were 33,800 metric tons 

 versus 18,500 tons for the same period in 

 1965. Stocks on September 15, 1966, were 

 271,700 tons against 34,500 tons on Septem- 

 ber 15, 1965. 



Prices for fish meal have dropped some- 

 what on the Hamburg (West Germany) market; 

 however, no drastic drop in price appears 

 imminent. Factors offsetting a drastic drop 

 are: (1) Peruvian fishermen struck at the 

 end of September and went on token strike in 

 early October 1966; if strike continues, prices 

 could stabilize or trend upward; and (2) re- 

 covery in world-wide consumption of fish 

 meal has been under way since July or Au- 

 gust 1966; it may be stabilizing influence if 

 it continues for next 3 or 4 months. But 

 world price could be forced down if there is 

 excessive Peruvian production of fish meal 

 when fishermen's strike threat ends --com- 

 bined with an abundant anchovy resource. 

 ( Oil World Weekly . Sept. 30, and Oct. 7, 1966.) 



