United States Deportraent of the Interior, J. A. Ivrug, Eecretrry Fish and V/ildlife Service, Albert U. Day, Director Fishery Leaflet 266 Yfeohington 25 , D. C. September 19/.7 FISHETIES OF IIP>UGUAY Marine Biological Labor. k.,; ! Ey Alfredo Comelli and Del7itt L. Storn-* J^iBit^kitTr ' j Contents WOODS HOLE, MASS. Page Eackground Location Employment Fishing Vessels Fishing Methods Employed. Species Fish Taken, 1937 to date. Eackground. Page . . 1 Production and Methods of . . 2 Processing, 1937 to date. . 8 . . 3 Production of Ey-products, . . 8 . . 3 Consumption. 9 . . /, International Trade Control , . 5 and Pattern 10 . . 7 Prices 12 Internal Trade Pattern .... 12 Fishery Pesearch .... 13 Outlook Summai'' . 13 a . EconoiTiic importance of the fishing industry in the cconony of the country or reg^ion; social and politic?, 1 asixcts. Uruguay has always based its national economy on livestock and agri- cultiiral produce, activities v^hich constitute 95 per cent of all Uruguayan experts and v;hich utilize 83 per cent of the country's arable or pasture lands. This does not imply that Uruguay is totally lacking in other sources of natural wealth. Several other resource's, not the least of which is fishing, are open to possible exploitation. The fishing industry in Uruguay, hOT/ever, is not yet an im.portant factor in the country's economy. In technological development, the industry is still in the elementary stages, although recent renewed activity on the pairt of SOlF (Servicio Oceanograf ico y de Pesca) rr£.y lead to miodernization and subsequent improvement. The potential importance of the fishing industry docs not depend upon a reorientation of the eating habits of the populace, which at present greatly prefers m.eat to fish, but upon the export possibilities. The exportation of shark livers and other products necessary tc the pharm,aceutical industry, es- pecially in the preparation of vitamdn extracts, is believed to offer the m.ost attractive comm.ercial incentives. Of secondary importance is the more remote possibility of an industry vrhich vjculd process fish for export purposes. Trade *Clerk and Third Secretary, respectively, at American '^ibassy, Montpvideo, Uruguay. Report No. 92, April 30, 1947. United States DepEirtraent of the Interior, J. A. Ivrug, Secretrry Fish and VJildlife Service, Albert I.i. Day, Director Fishery Leaflet 266 Viashington 25, D. C, September 19A7 FISHEIIEL' OF TOUGUAY Marine Biological Labor^o, .■ ! By Alfredo Comelli and DeV/itt L. Stora* I t^xmnA-n-sc ' | MAR 3-1941= Contents WOODS HOLE, MASS. Background, Location Employment Fishing Vessels Fishing Methods Employed. Species Fish Taken, 1937 to date. Background. Page . . 1 Production and Methods of . . 2 Processing, 1937 to date. . . 3 Production of By-products. . . . 3 Consumption . . /, International Trade Control , . 5 and Pattern . . 7 Prices Int^.rnal Trade Pattern . . . Fishery Pesearch .... 13 Outlook Summai-y .... 13 Page 8 8 9 10 12 12 a. Economic importance of the fishing indi^stry in the cconony of the country or region; social and politicfl asprcts . Uruguay has always based its national cconony on livestock and agri- cultural produce, activities v/hich constitute 95 per cent of all Uruguayan experts and which utilize 83 per cent of the country's arable or pasture lands. This does not imply that Uruguay is totally lacking in other sources of nattiral wealth. Several other resources, not the least of which is fishing, arc open to possilrle exploitation. The fishing industry in Uruguay, however, is not yet an im.portant factor in the country's economy. In technological development, the industry is still in the elementary stages, although recent renewed activity on the pa.rt of SOlP (Servicio Oceanografico y de Pesca) may lead to modernization and subsequent improvement. The potential importance of the fishing industry does not depend upon a reorientation of the eating habits of the populace, which at present greatly prefers m.eat to fish, but upon the export possibilities. The exportation of shark livers and other products necessary to the pharm^aceutical industry, es- pecially in the preparation of vitamin extracts, is believed to offer the m.ost attractive comm.ercial incentives. Of secondary importance is the more remote possibility of an industry v-hich v/ould process fish for export purposes. Trade *Clerk and Third Secretary, respectively, at American "^ibassy, Montevideo, Uruguay. Report No. 92, April 30, 1947. sources are of the opinion thrt the s err city', of tin plrtc in Uruguay v/ould prevent the succesvsful cstablishncnt of fi?h-cr.nning plrnts. PJhilc the present per capita consunction of fish in Uruguay is low, sor.c authorities believe that a systematic cnnpaign aiir>ed ft altering the people's taste could increase ccnsunption to roughly 20,000 metric tons annually. The benefits, in the forr. of increased neat exports, v/ould be considerable. It is estimated that experts of meat v;ould 'be increased by 5,000,000 pesos annually and that the Bank of the Fepublic would profit to the extent of 1,000,000 pesos per year through exchange transactions. Advocates of this plan also point out that freeing m.ore meat for the foreign market v/culd aid both the Frigorifico Macicnal and the Enak of the P.epublic, 'vhich nov/ jointly meet the deficit in- ciirred by supplying r.eat to the city of I/.cntevideo. Proper exploitation of the Uruguayan fishing waters, therefcre, offers the ccuntry and its industrialists many rcvrrds^ ^' History of the development c.f the fishing indtistry v.'ith special nctoo en '.vartimc developmr-ats, if pertinent . The history of the development cf the fishing industr}'' in Uruguay is very brief, fcr it was net uatiA ^/erv recently thft it held a place cf any ir.pcrtance in the cor.merciai and industrial life of the country. For many years the. industry was lef'C to individ'aals r/ho, using tno mb.-3t px'a.mltivo methods, caught, sold and distrib-'iteL'. J'-os!i f.^i^h to tno publi:'', Thevr aotivitxes cculd hardly be termed 'jell- orfi&i:ii;.'.ed ur highj-y-developed com^re-r-.-ial-iy. In the last fcur years the industry has ^fOjne--; U- im.portanoe -.vith the establishment in Monte vrideo of certain pri-'at.e . ^ : iiti which operate a tnorc i.icdern system of fishing and distribution and v;hoGc s'lc-joss is a proof of the, great latent po:-;5ic.'.."iities of the industry. Another very im.portant factor in the groivth of this industry is the atti'uude of ohe Uri,^gu.ayan government; which^ through the SOYP, is doing all it can to encc-iragc the consumption cf fish and v/hich, when the SOYP is leorganized, will net only conduct a cam.paign to persuade the Uruguayan people to eat m.ore fish, but will endeavour to utilize the by-]Trcducts. Fishing as a sport has becrr^e increasingly popuJar during the last fev; years, there being many clubs which crganize competitions and excursions fcr their members. The fishing industry, because of the unim.portant position it occupied in the Uruguayan eccnom.y, suffered little during the war and vras able to m.aintain its normal limited supply and ma.nuf acture . ^» Principal ports or districts. The following are the principal ports and districts of the fishing industry in Uruguay: Montevideo Salto Punta del Este Psysandih La Paloma • Santiago Vazquez Cabo Polonio Nueva Palmira Piriapolis Colonia Carm.clo b. Fishing; groijuds. Tho r.cst prclific areas are rclrtivily close tc shore in waters less than 200 fathoms. c . Fresh v/ater fisheries in rivers and lakes . Apart fron the inpcrtant fishing regions of the Fiver Flatc and the Atlantic, i.e. the ports of Montevideo, Piriipolis, Punta del Esto, La Palona, Cabo Polcnic and Colonia, there are less inpcrtant fresh-water fishing areas such as Saltc, Paysrndt, Santiago Vizquez, Kueva Palmira and Carmelo. In the south-east region there are seven lakes covering a total surface of fron A5 to 55 thoiTsand hectares, to which may ultimately be added the lake formed by the Rio Negro dam at Fincbn del Bonete, of which it is estimated that approximately 100,000 hectares are suitable for fishing. The latter is not exploited at present, Jiowever, Er.ployrcr-t, a. Kumbcr of -workers. It ic believed that som.c 600 men are engaged in the fishing trade, as fishermen, processors and distributors. b. Wages received. The average salary received by -.vcrkers employed by organized firmis in the fishing trade is cstim.ated at 120 pesos (l) per mcnth. Those 'who work independently may earn somev/hat more. c. Hours of labor and v/orking conditions. Workers have an eight-hour day, with overtime. YJorking conditic/ns for the men employed in the fishing trade are precarious, owing to the lack of r.cdern installations. All present equipment, including that used by the SOYP, is badly in need of repair. d. Subsistence fishing and an.?ling for sport. Chapter 1, sections a and b, of this report deal with the above. Fishing Vessels, ^ • Number of vessels , b. Type and size. c. Po77Gr employed. d. Adequacy cf existing vessels rnd pear to meet demands of industry. The number of vessels at present engaged in fishing is estimated at 29, the only ones worthy of r.enticn being those belonging to the SOYP, as folloT^s: One steel trawler, the "Antares", cf 267 metric tons' displacemtent, 38 meters in length, coal biirning, carrying a crev/ of 18 m.en, with refrigerated storage space, purcha.sed in 193S in England for 100,000 pesos; (1) Current rate of exchange: U^S 100 equal 17&.50 pesos 3 A second troxiler, the "Aldebr.rin", cf '339 netric' tons' displ?.cenent, ii.3 neters in length and at present with^rtit refrigeration facilities, in bad repair and not in active use, purchased in 191/!!t for /iO,000 pesos frcn Argentina, built in Great Britain; One tugboat, the "Altair", of 33 rietric tons' displacenent 18.8 r.eters in length, ■ coal burning, V7ith a crew of 16 r.cn. Purchased second-hrnd in 1937. Fiost of the crew are enployed in operating nets and nultiple fish linos fron snail boats; One launch, "La T.-Irrina", of 7 tons' displaceinent, 9.'^ meters in length, with a crew of 5 nen for operation of r.Tultiple fish lines, bought in 1937, in need of thorough overhauling. In addition, other vessels of lesser tonnage, steam or r.otcr, usually in a poor state of repair and the proj:)ortj' of private firms. Their value is negligible^ The actual vrlTie of the installation and equipnent of the fishing industry may be estimated as follorrs: Frivrto Firns Vessels l6/!^,800 pesos Other fishing oquipncnt 19,500 " Shore equipncnt St. installations _ 32 ^,700 217,000 pesos SOYP Vessels 107,000 Other equipment - 5,170 Manufacturing equipment & installations 151 > 772 263,9/!l2 pesos/ Pert Authorities Dockside installations for the use of amateur fishermen 21,, 0L2 " 2^,0^2 Total 50U,9^U pesos Fishing I.tethcds Er.ployed ^ "'• Inshore and offshore. Practically a]l Urugaayan fishing is coastal, that which takes place in the middle of the River Plate being slight as cor.pnred irith the total., b. Traj^rling, line, nex traT?. etc. (indicate relative importance of each gear, and -principal species taken by each) . With the exception of the trav/ler and of t\-:o vessels employing nets all others use hooks and lines. Nets, hcvraver, give superior results. Species. List coirjnon or local nare, and Latin or scientific nr.nes. NaEGs of fish comr.icnl.y caught in Uruieuayan waters . (The comnon nanc in Spanish is followed b5^ one cr noro coinmcn names in English, as far as they are current in the Eivcr Plate region, in brackets). Corjnon nanes Corvina (croaker) (white sea bass) Pescadilla (sea trout cr weak fish) Merlu^a (whiting, hake or false cod) Eagre cr Tncchuelo (cat fish) Corvina negra (sea drum) Palcraeta Cazbn (shark cr dogfish) Congrio (Conger) Pescadilla de red Gallo Lacha (menhaden) Pejerrey (a pseudo mackerel) Pati Raya (skate) Dorado (gilt head) Lisa (mullet) Armado Scientific names Mi crop on undulatus, L. Micropon opercubris, Q.G. Sciaena lepisma. Cynoscio mobile Cyncscion striatus, Cuv. Urophycis chuss. Merluccius (gayi, Guich. hubbsi, Mar.) Trachysurus barbus, Lacep, Pimelodus claries, L. Rhamdia sapo, C.V. Pogonias clircmis, L. Parcna signata, Jen. Iviustelus canis, Mitch. Leptocephalus orbignyamus, Val. Percophis brazilianus,Q.C. Sagenichthys ancylodon, Eloch, Eerg. Zenpsis conchifer, Low, Callorhynchus, callorhynchus, L. Ercvoortia tyrannus, Latrobe. Easilichthj''s bonariensis, C.V. Ivicnidia ururruayensis, Devicenzi Odenthestes pi^rugiai, Sverm and Kcnd. Lucicpimelcdus pati, C.V. Psamm-cbatis microps, Gtlir. Salminus maxillosus, Val. Coryphaena. Chryscphrys. Ivb-gil brazilicnsis, Ag. Cbcyd orus kner i ,E 1 och. Doras granulosus, Val, Ccnr.on nrnes Scientific Kar.cs Lengundc (pscuclc halibut CT flcunclcr) Sargo Salnfcn Anchca (blvLefish) Anguila Surubi Ivlangorubii. S&balo (shad) Mandubi ( nanduvi ) PacA Tararira Boj^a ' Eurriqueta Pargo Rosado (red pcrgy cr baize) Mero .... R cuget Hat a (harvest fish) Btirel (young anchovy) Sardina (sardine) Calar.ares (calomr.res Squid) Salnertn Centolla Paralichthys (braziliensis, Ranz pr.tagcnicus, Jord. and Hoss. Diplcdus argenteus, C. V. Bryccn orbygnianus, C. V. Cheilcdipterus saltatcr, L. Engraulis encrasichclus Pcmatonus saltatrix Synbranchus nariTiOratus , Eloch. Pseud oplatystoKa coruscans, Ag. Pseud opinelcdus zungaro, Hurab. Prrchilcdus linectus, Val. Clvipca alosa. Agenciosus uruguayensis, Deviconzi Pseudc agenciosus brevifilis, C. V. Cclcsona riitrei, Eerg. Colosoria canterai, Devicenzi. Hcplias nalabaricus, Blcch. Leporinus cbtusidenus, Val. Ophicscicn adustus, Ag. Pagrus pcgrus, L. Acanthistius brasilianus, C.V. Epinoph:lus gigas, Erunn. Hclicolcnus (dactylcpterus lahillei, Nornan) Rhcmbus paru, L. Cheilcdipterus saltatcr, L. Clupea encrasiccluE Lyncengraulis grcssidens, Ag. Bcridia grcssidens, C.V. Lithodos antarctica, Honb and Jacq. Common Ncmes Scientific Names ■ Par go blr.nco Criolla Congrio real . . . Efcalr.o del Siir (Abndejo) (liko codfish) Umbrinn cr.nossi Berg. Pogonias chronis, L. Pcrcophis brasiliensis, Q.C. Genypfterus blaccdes, Eloch, StclephcTUS olidus, Gthr, SjTibranchus parnoratus, Eloch. Carax gibbosus, L. Anchcita (anchovy) Anguila Mojarra Fish Taken, 1937 to date. a. Fish landed. Indicate catch by principal species. According to statistics f\irnished by SOYP, the total catch for the pest nine years, in metric tons, v.'as as fclla7s: Year 1938 1939 1^U1 19A2 19A3 19AA 19/!^5 19/^6 S.O.Y.P. 1,3^7 1,372 1,187 1,286 1,222 1,3A3 1,252 1,301 1,269 Private firms 2,295 2,0^,3 1,919 1,892 1,962 1,979 . 2,071 . ■ 2,10^ 2,33A Total 3,6/^2 3,a5 3,106 3,178 3,18^ 3,322 3,323 3,4.05 3,603 The average annual catch in Uruguay, therefore, vrrs 3,353 metric tons. The percentage thereof, "by species, follow: C orvina 78^ Pescodilla 16 Eagre 1 Brctula 1 Merluza 1 Various 3 b. Fish -.vasted. It is estimated thr.t 15^ of the total catch is wasted. Part of this is due to the lack of consumer demand for the species in question, part to the lack of adequate refrigeration facilities. Producticn p.nd nethcds of prccessinf;. 1937 to date. Annual production, in its several forms, is givon below in terras of metric Fresh or Year frozen fillets 1938 1,858 1939 1,742 19>^0 1,584 19a 1,621 19^2 1,633 1943 1,695 ■ . 19U 1,735 1945 1,836 19A6 2,038 161 149 150 140 142 122 139 131 141 130 151 131 147 136 108 152 163 143 tons. Dry salted Canned Pickled and snoked 928 871 792 810 800 849 807 798 919 The different species are processed in onounts corresponding roughly to the percentage given in paragraph 7 (a). Tin containers with a net capacity of 280 graras are used. These are delivered in cases of 48 cans each. Production of By-products. a. Fish oil. (1) Total Production - by kind The production of fish oil is of negligible conriorcial iraportanco, since the entire annual output, roughly 200 metric tons, is tised in the feeding of aninals. ( 2 ) Nuraber of mills and tyne of -cq-uipmcnt for primary processing and fvirther refining. Fish oil production is limited to two small firms. No information with regard to installations is available. (3) Grades produced. The oil produced is either Unrefined or Inedible. (4) Consumption in country - amount by industry, giving edible and inedible separately. As noted above, only inedible oil, -which is entirely consumed in the country, is produced. b. Fish real for rnir:kal and poultry feed, and for fertilizer. The production of fish meal in the period 1937-45 is given below. Year Kilograms 1937 ■ 168,240 1938 215,402 1939 190,072 Year Kil ograns 19/0 19A1 19/2 19/3 19U 19/5 19/6 c. Other by-pr<;cliictr'. 175,122 167, /as' 137,126 195,162 277,082 198,917 Not r.va liable The preparation of vitamin extracts has been undcrv/ay in the ].ocrl industry fcr only little more than a year. Consumption of principal species and total. a. Fresh or frozen (in metric tens) Year G crvina Pcscadilla Eagre Br '^-ttila 'fcrluza 1938 l,//9 1939 1,359 19/0 1,235 19a 1,26/ 19/2 1,273 19-^3 1,322 19// 1,353 19/5 l,/32 19/6 1,589 297 279 253 259 262 271 278 29/. 326 17 18 15 11 12 16 11 12 U 21 19 18 23 19 21 25 26 28 b. Canned. Year 1938 1939 1940 ±91,1 19/2 19/3 19/A 19/5 19/6 C crvina 129 120 11/ 121 130 127 118 89 137 Pescadilla 17 16 15 11 7 13 20 11 21 19 17 16 16 17 19 17 18 15 Especies Varias 56 50 /.7 AB 50 A6 51 5U 66 MerluzE 15 161 1/ 150 13 U2 7 139 / 141 11 151 9 U7 8 108 5 163 T ctal 1,858 1,7/2 1,58/^ 1,621 1,633 1,695 1,735 1,836 2,038 c. Cured. (Pickled, salted, smoked) Year C crvine 915 Pescadilla Mer].uza 55 Total 1938 107 1,077 1939 885 95 61 1,0/1 19/0 780 120 1/ 91/ 19/1 8/6 6/ 31 9/1 19/2 818 92 20 930 c. Cured. (Ccnt'd) . . Year C crvlnr-. Pescr.dilla Mcrluzr. Total 19A3 882 68 30 980 Z3UU 8-^9 81 ■ 13 9/^-3 19A5 855 7A 21 950 19^6 92A -85 53 - 1,062 d. Indicate pcttorn of consunpt ion, including customs end T>rG.iudlccs. The local tastes and habits have developed a consumption pattern v/hich Liay be expressed by the following percentage table: Fresh fish, especially fillets 60^ Canned fish ' 30 Salted fish 10 International trade crntrol and pattern, 1937 to date, ^« Indicate by all broakdovjns available for all fisliery products and by- •products, includiniq; country distribution. (l) .Inserts. Total irpcrts of salted fish (Gro'ss weight, in metric tons) Tire 123J7 1938 1939 19^0 19U 12^ 1943 19/..A 19A5 1^46 Ccdfish(l) "l63 179 "U3 235 126 59 22 32 71~ 98 Anchovies (2) 76 82 6l 92 60 85 132 77 7S 67 Herring (3) 24 27 20 32 16 A 1 — U 2 Note Iq Codfish are normally received in tin-lined cans which are estimated to constitute 10 per cent of the gross weight. It is understood that dry and salted ccdfish are inpcrted only from North America or from Europe. Kote__2, Anchovies are shipped in tv/o types of containers, i,e. in heavy barrels v/hich represent an estimated 40 per cent of gross weight and in tins which represent an estimated 20 per cent cf gross weight. Normally 55 per cent of the anchovies imported are in barrels and 45 per cent in tins, and arc shipped in a salt solution. All imports of anchovies dm-ing 19/|2^ 1943 ond 1944 vrere received from Argentina, and were of a local species differing frc-^m the Mediterranean variety. Note_3« Herring is customarily received in tins which are estim^ited to constitute 10 per cent of the gross weight. Total imports of canned fish (Gross wei ght, in netr ic tens) TYIE 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 19/2 1943 1944 1945 19Z.6 Anchovies 12 53 46 20 40 2 5 2 1 2 Tunny fish 21 19 18 19 15 — 8 43 39 53 Salmon S 10 7 7 12 5 2 4 5 7 Sardines 230 229 205 139 174 112 10 47 141 137 Others 7 5 6 4 2 1 1 2 6 10 Koto. Because of the various forpis in which these fish are prepared, it is impossible to estimate the actual net v/eight of the fish alone. There are no imports of fresh or frozen fish. (2) Experts. There are no experts of fish from Uruguay 'b. Foreign ccm-gctition. including analysis and trends of imports, inr^rt tari.t?fs and other regulations . Foreign competition with the local industry exists only in the crses of canned products in general and dry or brine salt fish, especially those tyrx'S v/hich are not found in Uruguayan coastal v;aters, e.g., codfish, sardines, salmon, tiina, and herring. Since the local canning industry is still in an elementary stage of development, it is unable to offer effective quality competition to the imported products. Proponents of the national industry hope that the adoption of modern r.othcds and the accurailation of manufactiiring experience will eventually enable the Uruguayan factories to rrcduce canned fish on a par with the at present superior foreign product. All impcrts are subject to exchange control. The import tariffs for fish are as follows: Fresh fish: 79 per cent ad-valoren. Frozen fish: 12 per cent ad-valorem Dry salted, smoked and kippered fish Herring: $0.26 (Uruguayan pesos) per 100 kilograms, including container. Codfish: a) Bcne-in: fO.ll (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram, gross weight b) Boneless: $0.21 (Uruguayan pesos) perkilogram gross weight Anchovies: ^0.16 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram gross weight Sardines: a) Erensadas: t'0.11 (Uru^oir^yan pesos) vbt kilogram, gross weight b) In other conditions: ?0.l6 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram gross weight. Other species: |:0.l6 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram gross weight. Canned fish prepared in different forms or styles, n^'t specified above . In brine: ?0.,^2 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram including container. Dry: $0.1^ (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram including container. Anchovies in oil: $0,70 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilof^am including container. Sardines in oil: f.O.JU, (Uruguaj'-an pesos) per kilogram including container. , Others: f0.70 (Uruguayan pesos) per kilogram, including container. All impcrted foodstuffs are subject to chcrdcal analysis. This safegu.ard is designed to protect the consunor from, impure or tainted food. c. Other principal factors lir.iting im'oorts or exports. There is no law which specifically limits exports or imports of fish as such. However, all international trade is controlled by the Office rf Export and Import Contro^. and the Bank of the Republic, \7hich respectively authorize and sell the required foreign exchange. 11 Prices. a. Fresh. Reliable price dnta are obtr.inaLle only from SOZP, the official institute, fccr the retnil trade. Wholesale transactions are completely private, and the prices fluctuate considerably. Large seals pr'jvisicning of the various gcvern- ment dependencies such as hospitals, asylums, garrisons, prisons, etc., is effected under official contracts v/ith SOYP, the details of rhich arc net made public , Retail prices, in Uruguayan pesos per net kilo, are as follOT;s: C orvina $0.17 Pes cad ilia 0.17 Hcrluza 0.20 Sargo 0.36 Lenguado 0.36 Pejerrey O.AO Besugo 0,U5 Brbtula 0./i5 Anchoa 0.45 FiU'to of fish vrith cr Mthout bones, from. 0.3/i to 0.U2 centisimos. b. £:^'ined, _ . c. Pickled and salted. ^« Snckcd and kippered, e„ Other irroducts As previously noted, all prepared fish, with the exception of a minute quantity produced locally is imported. Ecth the wholesale and retail yirices of the latter vary cnorincusly because of factors such as size, quality, style cf preparation^ country of origin, location of the store, etc. As a result, it is not unusual to find the same product being offered at radically different prices at the same time. Internal Trade Pattern. ^- " Methods cf marketing and channels cf trade in internal market, includ- ing factors affcctinpc marketing such as taxes, ryice and na.rketing agreements, etc. The retail fish trade is largely carried on at the stands located in the public mrrkcts, SOYP maintains seven branches in various zones of Montevideo, and privatoly-civnGd enterprises are also found in the m.arkets. In addition, a largo number of peddlers hawk their v.'arcs in thestreets of the residential districts., . With regard to taxes, the peddlers are required to pa:y for the appropriate permit and the stands are subject to the usual commercial taxes and patents. There are no knoi-.-n price or marketing agreements, although prices in general reflect those of SOYP, which v;ere given in paj-agraph 12 (b) of this report. 12 b, Measures in effect or under ccnsi:lcrrtinn for relicvin.?; disturbed market conditions, including; domestic subsidies, •nrcdv^cticn control, etc , The only official steps taken tcv/ard guaranteeing an aLirle supply o.f fish at moderate prices were these crbcdied in the reorganization of SOYP, the official government entity. SOYP has authorized a comprehensive study of supply controls, possible extension of sales, ncv/ installations and other factors ricrtinent to the aims noted above, c, Imprcvcmonts in tecI:Ticlog.y, crg:anization< financing, etc. Aside from the study mentioned. in the preceding paragraph, no such improvements have been noted, d, Markets and effectii'-e dem.and. Exports of canned fish and by-prcdu.cts have been so small as to be negligible. The present market and effective demand is almost completely domestic, although future export possibilities are limited only by the energy and the imr-.gination v;ith which the industry is de^-eloped, .Fishery Research a. Fishinp: statistics. No other statistics are available. b. Eiolor:ical, c. TeclinolofTJcal, d. Sociolo,?ical and economic e. Nutritional. f. Pond culture and fertilization. g. Stockinr^ and rehabilitation of fisheries in lakes and streams h. Fishery education i. Intensificaticn of existing: areas. j. Greater utilization of present catch. Outlook Summary. a. Production. The amiual catch in Uruguay averages 3,000 m.etric tons, 60^- of which is attributable to SOYP and U0% to private enterprises. Production varies seasonally with the emigration of fish; the peak r.onths are April and July. As indicated above, the present production is closely correlated to local demand, nhich is not great. Anticipating an increase in demand in the futui-o, SOYP ha.s developed a plan v/hich is conposed of the following elements: Establishm.eht of nev/ and m.ore efficient stands for public sale; Experim£ntal fishing on the Bank of Rouen, 168 mdlos south of Mcntevideo, an area which has not yet been tested; Exploratory fresh water fishing in the Urag-uay river; Studies designed to determine the possibilities of extracting 13 lobsters, clams and other shell-fish on the East Coast; .. A proposed State fishing base in the port of La Paloma, with plants for the production of flour, canned fish, etc. If the above enterprises fulfill expectations, it is estimated by SOIP that the annual production vdll increase to 10,0Q0 metric tons within two years« The phase of the fisheries industry v;ith the greatest commercial possibil- ities is the extraction of vitamin oils from shark and other fish livers. Research in this respect was begun in 1939 by SOYP and the Institute of Industrial Chemdstry, As a result of the subsequent report, SOYP began labcr- atcry extraction on a snail scale in 19U1-. The small output was used, with satisfactory results, by the l/dnistry of Public Health. Noi? SOTP has some F.cdern machinery, including two centrifuges and a mill. Delivery of a spectrof ctoneter is expected shortly. Hov/ever, present production is extremely limited. The new plant of SOIP is not expected to operate at capacity for at least six months. The chief vitardn oil-bearing fish is the "tiburbn chico" (nustelus cannis -Kitch) but other less profitable species are also being exploited. The former is found on the continental shelf betv/een Punta del Este and the Chuy. Principal drav/back to proper exploitation of this industry'' has been the lack of suitable vessels. SOYP acquired five nev; vessels in the past year. Fvi-thermorcj. SOYP has announced that its ncyi plant will be available to all fishermen in order that the yield of oils be as large as possible. Fcr this service SOYP vdll receive a royalty on each liter of oil obtained or each kilo of liver processed. Upon recommendation of Dr. Fernando DE BUEN, a Spanish fish industry specialist, a total of 1^.9^000 pesos were allocated for the reconstruction of buildings and installations on the Isla de Lobos, headquarters of the sea wolf skin industry. The value of this ccmmcdity to Uruguay has declined steadily since 1910,, when several private concerns took over the then thriving trade, SOYP hopes that by improvement in quality approximately 7,000 skins can be sold annually „ b. Effective local der.and. The effective local demand is sor.ev;hat less than might be expected of a country with abundant fish resources, because the population traditionally prefers meat to fish. A recent increase in consumption was due to a shortage of tho former and, to a lesser degree, to the effrrts of interested parties in educating tho public as to the dietary benefits of fish. ^ ' l-'^port Requirements , Imports arc confined to canned products, since the country is self- sufficient with respect to fresh fish. As noted above in the description of the local industry, som.e progress in the establishment of fish-processing and fish-canning factories is being made. However, it is anticipated that for several years to cone canned products will continue to be imported, although in gradually decreasing quantities. U d. Exportable S-urpluses. At the present time Uriiguay has no exportable surplus because; local iTcduc- tion Is completely absorbed by the internal market. But in thp futur-o, it is hoped that an expanded industry will be able to export Uruf-uny's fish and fish products. 15 m,^,'-„>^t^9.' Library - Se i 26US3 5 WHSE 00715