THE FISHERIES AND FISH TRADE OF PORTO RIOO. 
43 
Imported fishery products may be considered by ports, as follows: 
San Juan . — The capital city of the island has a population of 32,048. Its imports 
of fishery products are exceeded only by those of Ponce. In 1897 the canned fish 
imported amounted in value to 1112,091, of which oidy 1806 worth came from the 
United States. Boneless fish are occasionally received in small amounts by retail 
grocers. The receipts of dry and pickled fish in 1897 were as follows: 
From — 
Kilograms. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
3,380,410 
268, 729 
147, 901 
7, 452, 524 
592, 446 
326, 065 
$139, 453 
34, 935 
19, 227 
Total 
3, 797, 040 
8,371,035 
493, 615 
Ponce . — The population of Ponce is 27,952. In the matter of fish imports this 
is by far the most important place in Porto Rico. The receipts for 1897 are said to 
be a fair average of the imports of late years, and amounted in value to $1,016,447 
on dry and pickled fish, and $14,406 on canned fish. 
The value of dry and pickled fish received in 1897 was as follows: 
From British North American Possessions $771, 303. 52 
United States 234, 972. 50 
All others 10,171.17 
Total 1,016,447.19 
Imported dry fish consists principally of cod-fish. Hake and haddock are said to 
stand the climate better than cod, but only a small amount can be disposed of. Poor 
cod-fish is preferred to hake and haddock of much better condition and lower price. 
Of pickled fish, a few herring are used, but seldom any alewives. Split herring 
bring $1 a barrel more than round. Smoked herring are only used to a limited 
extent, “lengthwise” being preferred. 
Canned fish are little used, the amount imported in 1897 being valued as follows: 
From England $8, 215 
Spain „ ' 5,808 
United States 166 
France 184 
Italy 33 
Total 14,406 
Imported fish are usually distributed to the interior in original packages, but 
when goods are to go over bad roads the packages are opened by the purchaser and 
the contents packed in bags, which are carried by pack animals. 
The marketing of crops has some connection with the fish trade in the securing 
of return cargoes by vessels arriving with cargoes of fish. Coffee crops are moved 
from the last of October up to June; sugar crops from the last of January until the 
end of May. In 1899 the sugar crop began to move the first part of January, some- 
what earlier than usual. Return cargoes can usually be had from the first of February 
up to the end of April. 
