4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 99 



heaviest and where the big rivers empty large quantities of muddy 

 water into the lake. 



During the dry season from December through March the trade 

 winds are strongest, blowing from the north and northeast through the 

 channel and lengthwise across the lake, becommg strongest in the 

 afternoon, late evening, or early part of the night. The surface water 

 of the lake apparently has a counterclockwise rotation in the southern 

 two-thirds of the lake. 



The specific gravity of the water was taken by means of a saU- 

 nometor, and the following readings were recorded: Gulf of Venezuela, 

 1.021 at mouth of Cafio de Sagua on incoming tide; El Tablazo and 

 at Maracaibo Yacht Club, 1.006; Lago de Maracaibo, 2 km. off 

 Lagunillas, 1.004; and at southwestern end of the lake 2 Ian. off Rio 

 Concha, 1.002. The turbidity of the water may increase its specific 

 gravity a httle at the southern end of the lake. Undoubtedly the 

 deeper waters of this lake are salty. 



FISHERIES OF THE GULF OF VENEZUELA-MARACAIBO BASIN 



The fishes of the Gulf of Venezuela and Lago de Maracaibo are 

 almost untouched commercially as compared with the great fisheries 

 of the North Sea and those of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North 

 America. I believe the fisheries of Venezuela cannot be greatly 

 developed until more modern fishing equipment, including quick- 

 freezing refrigeration and power fishing boats with refrigeration 

 equipment, are used extensively. Such equipment would permit 

 fishermen to go farther, stay out longer, and still be able to bring back 

 desirable fishes to the market without deterioration and spoilage. 



These bodies of water contain an abundance of anchovies, completely 

 unexploited and almost unkno\vn to the fishermen. Some are small, 

 but others reach a length of nearly a foot, and all are delicacies. A 

 special type of net would have to be developed for their capture. 

 Other species, I found, such as mullets (lisa), various catfishes (bagre), 

 bocachicas and p^mpanos (Characinidae), robalos (Centropomidae), 

 kingfishes and Spanish mackerel (carite or carite sierra), pdmpanos 

 (jurel), leatherjackets (zapatero de mar and palometa de lago), snap- 

 pers (pargos), grunts (roncos), groupers (meros), sargos, croakers 

 (corvinas), and moj arras de rlo, are common market fishes sold either 

 fresh or salted. Further investigation over a period of a year would 

 probably have revealed other fishes in the Maracaibo Market. 



This much was obvious: That new fishing methods should be tried, 

 such as the beam-trawl, otter-trawl, fish traps, purse seines, and other 

 fishing gear, depending on the bottom and depth of water and kind of 

 fish desired. Now that sharks are in demand, shark fishing sbould be 

 attempted in these waters. With the great abundance of blue crabs 

 in the lake a valuable fishery could be developed. 



