Israel (Contd.): buffalofish in Israel ponds, following the importation two years ago of 35 young buffalofish from Alabama in the hope that they would produce a brood to coexist with local carp in the country's fish ponds. However, fish breeders have now given up hopes for the natural birth this season of a generation of this type of fish and they now intend to give the females hypopsis injections to speed the laying process. Last year the fish laid no eggs, although they thrived in Israel ponds to a good size, without producing, however. An earlier attempt to import buffalofish in the form of eggs failed with the death of all the fish that were hatched. Even if the planned injections should fail to bring results, the breeders will wait another year, since there is a possibility that the fish may need longer to mature in Israel waters. Officials at the Dor Research Station of the Israel Department of Fisheries are keeping the fish in the best possible prespawning condition, and experts are of the opinion that there will be no integration problems as experiments have shown that the buffalofish and the Israel carp together thrive well in Israel. Mexico COOPERATION OF U. S. SHRIMP COAST REQUESTED: The U. S. Department of State received a communication from the Mexican Government in May 1958 requesting cooperation by United States shrimp vessels fishing in waters off Mexico. The communication requested that United States shrimp vessels carry their nets inboard when present in Mexico's territorial waters and that prior authorization be obtained from the Mexican Ministry of Marine to anchor in such waters. It was also requested that when an American vessel is forced to put into a Mexican port, the captain, unless prevented by justified physical impossibility, report personally to the authorities informing them of the reasons for entry with an estimate of the time the vessel will remain in Mexican waters. The communication also called attention to a requirement that before leaving a Mexican port, United States fishing vessels must obtain clearance (which includes approval of the vessel's manifest, the bill of health, and the crew list) from the appropriate Mexican Consular Official. Mexican national officials have requested that American shrimp vessels be asked to fly the United States flag and to permit identification visits by Mexican naval vessels when in Mexican territorial waters and for the purpose of safety of navigation to refrain from turning off lights and running when a Mexican naval vessel appears. Laws of the United States require the maintenance of appropriate lighting aboard American vessels and the failure to do so creates a problem of safety at sea. The United States, however, does not require United States vessels to fly the United States flag. This information is passed on to the American shrimp fleet so that it may know of the Mexican request in this connection for purposes of identification. The U. S. Department of State is informing the Mexican Government that it is communicating the request of the Mexican Government to the United States shrimp industry, on the understanding, however, that it has reference only to the shrimp fleet's activities within three marine miles of territorial sea recognized by the United States. VERACRUZ FISHERIES TRENDS, Landings of 11.0 million pounds of fish, made off the coast of Veracruz by Mexican fishermen in 1957, will be equaled or surpassed during the current year, indicates a United States Consulate dispatch (July 7, 1958) from Veracruz. During April-June 1958 there were excellent catches of mackerel, robalo, and other fish. With the possible exception of the robalo, in each instance, the catches were of such size that the market was temporarily flooded, causing a drop in prices. In at least one instance, the fishermen discontinued their opera Mexico (Contd.): tions after a few days of successful fishing, because the market price was so low. There was no incentive for them to continue their work, even though fish were available in nearby waters in large quantities. As usual, the problem of adequate refrigeration facilities to handle large catches of fish continues to plague the Veracruz fishermen. There appears to be no indication of plans to build new refrigeration facilities in the coastal area to service the needs of the fishermen. Recently, a tuna resource was discovered off the coast between Veracruz and Alvarado, but press reports indicate that the resource is not too large, and that in any event Mexico does not possess the boats, equipment, and fishermen adequate for this particular type of fishing. Netherlands ANTARCTIC WHALING Holland will not discontinue whaling expeditions with the factory ship William Barendsz II, according to the Director of Fisheries of the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. Commenting on recent suggestions by the Audit Office to stop whaling expeditions because of the losses involved, the Director said that it would be wrong to do so since Holland would "cast away the possibility of supporting itself in the field of whale oil if future conditions should take a turn for the worse." The Director said that it would be difficult to resume whaling operations once the expeditions were discontinued. He said that he was optimistic about Dutch whaling operations in 1958. (June 18 United States Embassy dispatch from Amsterdam.) ***** FISHING ASSOCIATIONS PROTEST Private fishing associations from seven European countries at a meeting on July 15, 1958 at Scheveningen discussed the decision of the Icelandic Government to extend its fishing limits from 3 to 12 miles. The press reported that a joint resolution was prepared asking the governments of the respective associations to urge Iceland to reconsider its decision. It was decided to hold a further meeting before September 1 to consider further measures provided no satisfactory solution was found. Although Dutch trawlers do not ordinarily operate off Iceland, they fear that the waters in which they normally fish may become overcrowded if the trawlers of other nations are displaced from Icelandic fishing grounds, states a July 18, 1958, dispatch from the United States Embassy at the Hague. HERRING CATCH LOWER IN 1957: Landings of 166.7 million pounds of herring in the Netherlands in 1957 were the lowest since 1945, according to the 1956/57 report of the Netherlands League of Herring Dealers. Prices increased with the drop in landings, but the herring trade has reaped relatively little from the upward trend in business during the past few years. There is growing concern about the failure to provide protective measures for Dutch herring in the European market. Biologists are not agreed on the causes of the continual decline in herring catches. Contracts concluded with the Russians in 1957 called for the export of 100,000 casks of herring. No exports of herring to Russia were made in 1956, states a June 13, 1958, dispatch from the United States Consul at Rotterdam. New Hebrides TUNA FISHING INDUSTRY TRENDS: Reports from the tuna plant at Pallikulo (southwest coast of Espiritu Santo), New Hebrides, indicate a high percentage of albacore in the catches of the Japanese boats supplying the plant. Built in 1957, the plant is now in full operation: The plant can handle 32 tons Refined hardened oils and fats made of aquatic animal oils, edible and inedible. Total. 72,988 21,941 53,147 32,657 42,536 28,603 32,031 56,651 16,004 9,700 17,668 As indicated in table 2, obviously the producers have had much confidence in the stockfish (dried fish) marketing prospects. This situation seems, however, at least to have entered a temporary change. The stockfish exports developed very satisfactorily last year and through January and February of this year. Since March, however, the important African market has been a very reserved buyer. Competition from Iceland, and perhaps also too optimistic price demands, created this situation. As to the Italian market, the trade at present can only offer insignificant quantities of the qualities and sizes preferred. The prospects of the Italian trade are expected to improve in July and onwards, when this year's production is dry and ready for shipment. Italy prefers the big size Lofoten fish, which this year ought to command a high export price. In any case the production is not too big, and producers have paid a high price for the raw fish, The smaller production of salted cod is a result of poor marketing prospects for klipfish (dried salted cod). The deflationary development in Brazil has stopped exports. As Brazil is the chief Norwegian klipfish market, every effort is being made in order to normalize the situation. On the Portuguese market low-priced offers from France, Iceland, and partly Newfoundland has reduced the sales prospects for Norwegian klipfish. Altogether the bright spots of the klipfish trade are few. Salted smoked herring Shellfish Canned fish (all kinds) Salted cod roe Herring meal Groundfish meal FISHING LIMITS PROBLEM CONSIDERED BY STORTING: In answer to a question on fishing limits raised in the Norwegian Storting on June 18, 1958, the Foreign Minister stated that if the problem continues, Norway will be forced to extend its fishery limits. He stated further that: (1) Norway was not in agreement with the decision made by Iceland to extend its fishing limits to 12 miles; (2) the problem is much broader than whether or not Iceland and the Faroe Islands will consider Norwegian fishing interests and also hinges on whether these States are willing to consider interests connected with maintenance and strengthening of the "Law of the Seas;" (3) the best method of changing fisheries boundaries is by international agreement; (4) for Iceland and the Faroe Islands the 12-mile fishing limits merely mean a delay until an in Norway (Contd.): ternational conference is held; (5) the Norwegian Government strongly desires, through informal, friendly discussions with Iceland to find a way out of present situation and would like to see such discussions take place with all countries directly concerned with fishing in northern waters; (6) Norwegians understand the Danish position in proposing a regional conference and will participate to protect Norwegian interests if a conference is held, but doubt that open formal negotiations will lead to agreement; and (7) if negotiations fail, a situation might arise in the fall of 1958 forcing Norway to take measures to "protect fishing banks along our own coast against results of trawlers from many countries being denied access to traditional fishing areas in the western part of the Norwegian Sea." (U. S. Embassy, Oslo, dispatch of June 19, 1958.) SHRIMP FISHERY: * About 1954 a large increase took place in the shrimp fishery in Rogaland, Norway. Before that, shrimp were landed with an annual value of about 3 million kroner (US$420,000). Since the fishery began on the Skudesnes grounds, shrimp have been landed with an annual value of 8-9 million kroner (US$1.1-1.3 million), and this prominent fishery continues. The shrimp fishermen, however, have taken to sea, and quite a number of them have made good catches. Frequently shrimp fishermen have landed catches of 1,300-1,800 pounds in two-day trips, and those really fortunate have landed more than 2,200 pounds. As prices rise in the course of the winter to 5-6 kroner per kilogram (32-39 U. S. cents a pound) heads on, even small catches may give reasonable incomes to the fishermen. Before the Skudesnes grounds were discovered, most of the shrimp catches were landed in Egersund. Since that time a number of shrimp landing stations have been erected. On the Karmøy there now exist three such shrimp landing stations, two in Skudesneshavn, and one in Aakrehavn, with 150 workers employed during the better part of the season. The number of vessels participating in the shrimp fishery has also increased-200 shrimp trawlers are operating on the shrimp grounds in spring and summer, and a good half of the fleet belongs to Karmøy. In the southernmost part of the Rogaland County there also exists a number of landing stations for shrimp, first of all in Egersund, where several landing stations and shrimp plants are situated but also in Store Sirevaag where a considerable quantity of shrimp is landed every year. One year ago a prominent exporting firm established its own landing station and freezing plant in Stavanger, where all kinds of fish are received for distribution to the different markets inland and abroad. Production of fish fillets is an important part of the activities of this prominent sales organization. This firm had a record-breaking year in 1957, with a total sales turnover of 17 million kroner (US$2.4 million), apportioned between shrimp, fish, and lobster. Very great quantities of shrimp are found off the North Sea grounds, sometimes far at sea, and at other times quite near the shore. When the shrimp fishery started on the Skudesnes grounds, the shrimp were caught just one hour's journey west of Geitungen; later on, however, the shrimp trawlers went to the Reef. Thus, the favorable places for the fishery changes. The shrimp fishery depends to a rather large extent on fair weather conditions. A number of Egersund trawlers are carrying on the shrimp fishery all year round, and those most successful may have shares of about 11,000 kroner (US$1,540). Shrimp trawling also yield a considerable quantity of mixed fish catches, which supply one half of the feed necessary for the important Norwegian mink-breeding industry, which operates with export figures of some 60 million kroner (US$8.4 million) a year. The failure of this winter's herring fishery will certainly lead to an increased activity in the Norwegian shrimp fishery. (Norwegian Fishing News, no. 1, vol. V, 1958.) * |