its postwar trade with the United States, according to a report from R. R. Ellen, Australian Government Trade Commissioner at New York City. A relatively small item in 1947, when less than 100,000 pounds were shipped from Australia to the United States, the spiny lobster industry has had a spectacular development over the last three years. In 1948, more than 500,000 pounds were sent to the United States; and in The United States is Australia's biggest spiny lobster customer, taking about 96 percent of the season's exports (valued at $1,360,000). In the 1948-49 season, Great Britain, the British West Indies, India, and Singapore also took shipments. Early shipments of the tails were absorbed by the restaurant and hotel trades, but the capacity of the Australian fisheries has not been fully to a point where this Aus gauged, and exporters have hopes of developing the trade tralian food specialty will be selling in many retail stores. The Australian spiny lobster (or marine crayfish), caught in the cool southern waters, is an entirely different species from the rock lobster caught in and around the Caribbean. It has a flesh color varying from white to pink and pale orange. For export to the United States, only the pure white is classified as "fancy grade." Processing of the spiny lobsters takes place within a few hours of catching, and every care is taken in their handling to avoid bruising and marking. As the habitat of the Australian spiny lobster is the dark cool waters of the sea floor, speed in transporting it to processing and freezing points is essential. Specific Department of Commerce and Agriculture regulations determine the temperatures at which spiny lobster tails are frozen, stored, and shipped. The tails, which must be severed from the spiny lobsters while alive, are cleaned in clear water, wrapped in cellophane, and quick-frozen at -20° F. They are shipped to the United States in 20-pound packages. Western Australia is by far the largest shipper of "tails" to the United States, but substantial quantities are also shipped from Tasmania and South Australia. The annual catch of spiny lobsters in Western Australia is more than 6,000,000 pounds, or almost one third of that State's total fish production. Most of these shellfish are taken in the Abrolhos Group--coral islands and reefs extending for about 50 miles and lying 40 miles off the coast near Geraldton. The other fishing areas in Western Australia are coastal waters west and north of Fremantle. Lobster tails promise to be a valuable dollar earner for Australia. FISH CANNERS URGE PROTECTION FROM IMPORTS: Commenting on the closing of three Australian fish canneries this year, the Secretary of the Fish Canners! Association of Australia said the Commonwealth Government would have to take urgent action to protect the industry or its future would be seriously prejudiced, reports the Australian Fisheries Newsletter in its July 1950 issue. Referring to the successful development of tuna canning in New South Wales last year, which marked the beginning of exploitation of Australia's tuna resources, he pointed out that this new development would be seriously retarded if the Government did not find some means of protecting the industry from imports. The Fish Canners' Association, as a general measure of protection from imports, has asked the Government to fix maximum imports from easy-currency countries at 100 percent of their 1938-39 shipments, and from dollar countries at 50 percent. Of the three canneries that ceased operations, two are now processing frozen fish, and the other was sold to a crayfish-processing company. Australia now has 15 canneries operating, at least to some extent. Canada FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES FOR 1950-51 EXPENDITURES: Main and supplementary estimates of expenditures by the Canadian Department of Fisheries for the fiscal year 1950-51 were approved by the House of Commons during its recent session and include activities in the fields of fish inspection, patrol and protection, fish-culture development, research, education, bait services, and international fisheries commissions, according to that Department's Trade News of July 1950. The Department's estimates provide for expenditures totaling C$10,651,174, including C$1,547,584 for supplementaries. A joint federal-provincial working committee to unify government operations across Canada in fisheries protection, inspection, and development generally has been established. The largest amount (C$4,088,650, an increase of C$864,250 over the previous fiscal year) of the 1950-51 funds will be spent for the maintenance of fisheries inspection, which includes salaries for fishery officers and guardians and the cost of fisheries patrol and protection services. The East Coast administrative machinery has been revamped, and plans call for the reorientation of areas of administration, and in some cases, the reallocation of duties and the engagement of new staff. In the inland areas, the Department's staff has been increased and services for whitefish inspection have been stepped up. The fisheries of the Northwest Territories, particularly those of Great Slave Lake, are expanding in economic impor tance and Federal officials feel keenly their responsibilities to encourage the utilization of, but at the same time the perpetuation of, the valuable fish stocks there. In Newfoundland, the Department has made a substantial increase in its inspection staff. Similarly in fish-culture development, continued expansion of the work requires an appropriation of C$779,045 for 1950-51, compared to C$693,400 last year. The main estimates also provide for an expenditure of C$250,000 by the Department's Information and Educational Services. This provides for increased activities in technical education of fishermen. The Fisheries Research Board of Canada was provided with an appropriation of C$1,550,600 for operation and maintenance, an increase of C$151,925 over last year's funds, and includes C$103,000 for the acquisition of research equipment. For construction and improvements by the Board, the estimates provide an expenditure of C$503,000. Expansion of both biological and technological services of the Board is provided for in these funds. At Halifax, N. S., provision is made for the extension of the work of the Atlantic Experimental Station, and new construction is being undertaken which, among other things, will provide space for pilot-plant experiments. At St. Andrews, N. B., similar building expansion is planned for the Atlantic Biological Station in order to enlarge their conservation and development studies activities. Both of these undertakings are the result of demands by the industry for increased fisheries research. In British Columbia, the Department has substantially increased its biological and engineering activities. The estimates contained C$548,400 for the maintenance and extension of bait services. Three additional bait depots are provided for Newfoundland. Other funds provided were C$180,650 for Canada's share of the expenses of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission; C$50,000 for Canada's share of expenses of the International Fisheries Commission for the regulation of the North Pacific halibut fisheries; and C$500,000 for Canada's share of expenses of the Provisional Fur-Seal Agreement. The Department again has been given special funds: C$100,000 to be used to provide assistance in the construction of vessels of the dragger and long-line type; C$100,000 to provide assistance in the construction of bait-freezing and storage facilities; and C$80,000 to provide for the extension of educational work in cooperative producing and selling among fishermen. NOTE: VALUES SHOWN ARE IN CANADIAN DOLLARS (C$). VALUE OF CANADIAN DOLLAR IS APPROXIMATELY 90 CENTS U.S. With the exception of the pur FISHERIES SUPPORT PROGRAM, FISCAL YEAR 1950: chase of 4,476,802 pounds of Manitoba lakes frozen fish, valued at C$281,740, no other species of fish were supported by the Canadian Government during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1950, according to the annual report of the Fisheries Prices Support Board. During the previous fiscal year (1948-49), the Board supported the prices of East Coast fish by purchasing 151,026 cases of canned cod (and related species), herring, and mackerel. While arrangements had been made to dispose of the entire purchase of canned fish before March 31, 1949, certain stocks still remained in warehouses at that date pending shipment. The loss incurred in the 1949-50 fiscal year in disposing of this balance amounted to C$604,985. The loss incurred in the previous fiscal year was C$538,988, bringing the total cost for this program up to C$1,143,973, according to a July 10 American Embassy dispatch from Ottawa. A limited program to assist Newfoundland fishermen (but not processors) by the purchase of 1949 carry-over stocks of salt cod was announced by the Minister of Fisheries in the House of Commons on June 28. The Fisheries Prices Support Board will undertake this buying at prices averaging two-thirds of the prices prevailing at the beginning of last year. NOTE: VALUES SHOWN IN CANADIAN DOLLARS (C$). WORTH $0.9091 U. s. THE CANADIAN DOLLAR AT THE OFFICIAL RATE IS Chile DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES PLANNED: The Chilean Government has maintained its policy of fostering the fishing industry, according to an August 8 American Embassy dispatch from Santiago. Chile's fisheries were surveyed during April and May by a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization. The Corporacion de Formento de la Produccion, on the basis of recommendations made in this survey, has announced a program which includes the building of fish'processing plants; the development of a whaling industry, hydrogenation of fish oil, and ship construction; aid to fishery schools and organizations; improvement of marketing facilities; and preparation of a map of Chilean fisheries. Ecuador 1/ FISH MARKETING SITUATION: Ecuadoran public markets in June 1950 had adequate supplies of fresh fish and shellfish. Most small fish weighing less than two pounds are sold by the piece without weighing. Since ice is used sparingly, most of the fish and shellfish are sold within 12 hours of being caught. Most fishing is done with hook and line from canoes, or reed floats. The principal fishing ports in the Guayaquil area, other than the estuary and bay of Guayaquil, are Salinas, Libertad, and during the dry season from June to November, Ayangue and Entroda. At other seasons, roads to the latter are impassable. There is a tremendous fluctuation in prices for fish and shellfish in the markets, not only seasonally, but from day to day. This is due to the lack of refrigerated storage facilities so that all fish must be sold as soon as possible. Prices drop sharply when supplies are abundant and rise steeply on days of scarcity. The lack of processing plants, either canning or reduction, contributes to the general instability of prices. and in in Ecuador has been a net importer of processed fishery products, seems likely to continue to be spite of proven tuna resources the Galapagos. There appears to be no likelihood of establishing any canning facilities during the remainder of 1950. No dried or salted fish was being imported during the first half of 1950, but adequate supplies were being produced both in Ecuador proper, especially in the Galapagos Islands. Species commonly used are sharks, bonito, and albacore. SELLING LIVE CRABS OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC MARKET IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR. Although a fairly wide selection of fishery products was imported in the prewar period, 1935-39, the actual quantities were relatively small and only sardines reached a respectable amount--varying between 750,000 pounds and 1,500,000 pounds annually. Imports from the United States averaged a little better than 880,000 pounds per year. THIS IS THE ELEVENTH REPORT IN A SERIES TO GIVE INFORMATION ON CURRENT AND POTENTIAL MARKETS |