The number of Cubans reaching U.S. shores illegally increased from 186 in 1997 to 732 in the first 11 months of 1998, John Hamilton, deputy assistant secretary of state, said after a twice-yearly meeting with Cuban officials.

``There has been a definite shift from rafters to organized criminal activities'' Hamilton said.

Smugglers increasingly use high-powered speedboats to bring Cubans across the Florida Straits, leading U.S. authorities to step up patrols across the 90-mile stretch of water, Hamilton said.

Cuban officials did not comment on the talks, but Hamilton said they didn't have any complaints about the increased patrolling. Both sides recognize smuggling as a problem, he said.

``Fast boats are harder to catch than rafts,'' Hamilton said when asked why the patrols had not caught more of the smugglers.

Cuba has lowered the charge for processing legal exit permits from an average of $700 in 1997 to about $500 in 1998, Hamilton said, while the United States increased the number of nonimmigrant visas for Cubans from 5,361 in 1997 to 8,078 to date in 1998.

The U.S.-Cuba talks focus on immigration agreements signed in September 1994 and May 1995. The United States ended a decades-old policy of accepting most Cuban refugees rescued at sea, while Cuba promised not to harass refugees returned by the United States.

``Both sides are very happy with the progress of the immigration accords . . . [which have] have become closer and more effective,'' said Hamilton, who headed the U.S. delegation at Friday's talks.