boundary of the swordfish migration on the coast of Chile. 



Fishing Methods and Procedures. Swordfishing in Chile is a primi- 

 tive operation. The harpoon is used and aside from slightly larger boats 

 and improvements in the motors used, there has been no material advance 

 in the last twenty-five years. This can be attributed to a lack of organized 

 fishing and adequate financing. Generally, northern Chile can be consid- 

 ered virgin territory for the development of modern techniques in this type 

 of fishing. 



Boats. The craft used in swordfishing are of one general pattern. They 

 are of a double-ended sea-skiff design, from 22 to 28 feet in length. They 

 were formerly powered by oar and sail. However, by the mid-twenties con- 

 version to power had started. By 1940, the entire fleet was motorized. Due 

 to the Import Tax and to the cost of motors the boats are vastly under- 

 powered. The motors are of British or German design and manufacture. 

 The average horsepower is about 20-30 with a very few as high as 60 H.P. 

 The boats are of heavy hard-wood construction and the average cruising 

 speed of the fleet is 5 knots, with a top of 7 knots. The boat design is a 

 completely open cockpit and flush deck, divided into four to six sections 

 for storage of gear, fish and a shelter for the crew. The freeboard, at bow 

 and stern, is about three and one-half to four feet, with roughly two feet 

 midships. The use of a pulpit for harpooning has never been tried in Chile, 

 primarily due to lack of example, plus the small size and slow speed of 

 the craft. In general it is apparent that any future expansion in this field 

 will require a complete redesign of the present type of boat, coupled with 

 the necessary increase in power. This can be achieved in Chile only by 

 the active support of the commercial companies. It would be financially 

 impossible for an individual crew or group of crews to acquire the desired 

 equipment. 



Fishing Equipment. The gear employed in the commercial harpooning 

 of the billfishes is as obsolete and inefficient as the boats, because of the 

 lack of organized backing to fishing, and because each boat and its crew 

 operates as an independent unit, living a hand to mouth existence. Fisher- 

 men have never had commercial or government encouragement in devel- 

 oping efficient equipment. 



The cost of good gear is beyond fishermen's means. Instead of longline 

 manila or cotton rope for their harpoon lines they manufacture their line 

 themselves, from any old marine rope. This is destranded, blended with 

 raw, long manila fiber. The final result is a line of low tensile strength. A 

 rough 1/4" native line will break at about 175 to 225 pounds in comparison 

 with a 450 pound test of machine made cotton. Many large and active fish 

 are lost because of this. 



The harpoons or darts used are of the conventional American design and 



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