It consists of a dugout canoe, or, as it is called in Ecuador, a "bongo." This 

 craft averages about 16 feet to 18 feet in length and is manned by one or 

 two fishermen. It is generally constructed out of a single large log with a 

 side panel added on to give additional freeboard above the surface of the 

 water. Most of the boats employed in marlin fishing lash a split balsam 

 log on either side just above the water line to provide additional stability. 

 In the fore part of the craft is a mast of about 14 feet to 16 feet in height, 

 which carries a single lateen sail. Occasionally, in the calmer seasons of the 

 year a plain foresail is used. The steering of these craft is done by a single 

 oar seated in a notch in the stern. In the summer months, around the first 

 of the year, when the periods of calm are encountered, the natives will 

 either row or slowly scull. Due to the lack of power in these boats, the 

 fisherman is forced to operate in courses that will set him most advantag- 

 eously in relation with his home port and the prevailing tradewind is from 

 the south to the southwest and only occasionally in the summer season is 

 a light blow encountered from the northerly quadrants. These summer 

 winds from the north only last a day or two at a time. This obvious limitat- 

 ion imposed by sail and wind probably has restricted these fishermen in 

 the development of the potential in their waters as there has never been 

 any serious exploration here with the proper facilities. It is impossible 

 to predict where the best billfishing might be encountered. 



As stated before, the main area of operation is from the north and 

 northeast port of La Plata Island, northeast across the channel to Cape San 

 Lorenzo, which is just southwest of the Port of Manta. While the waters 

 off the northern part of La Plata Island are very productive of billfish, it 

 is probably a chosen spot more because fishing is close to shore and their 

 small sailing craft always have the lee side of the Island and its consequent 

 shelter for protection. It is very seldom that they operate if the wind force 

 is in excess of 15 knots. 



A typical day's commercial marlin fishing is as follows: The homes of 

 nearly all these fishermen are on the mainland side. In the peak of the 

 fishing season during their winter months, the little sailing craft are towed 

 over to La Plata Island by the pick-up boats that return the fish to the re- 

 frigeration plant at Manta. During the season these fishermen camp out on 

 the beach at the Island. As a rule they depart from their sheltered cove at 

 4:00 to 5:00 o'clock in the morning. The small village and the best anchor- 

 age is at the northeastern end of La Plata and a scant mile from the princi- 

 pal fishing ground at the northwestern end. The fisherman either sails or 

 rows up the shore in the early morning, trolling a feather on a hand line 

 until he catches a bonito, or large mackerel. This is carefully hooked 

 through the upper lip and the second or trailing hook is inserted horizon- 

 tally through the skin about the middle of the first dorsal fin of the bait. 



50 • 



