THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



estimated that there were at least 20,000 commercial fishermen engaged In the Venezuelan 

 fisheries in 1942. This figure is also too low since it has been stated that 20 percent 

 of Venezuela's population, about 750,000 persons, obtains its livelihood from fishing in 

 the sea, in the rivers, and in the lakes. 



FISHING GROUNDS 



At present it may be said that the Venezuelan fisheries are coastal. Only at times 

 do the fishermen go more than 10 to 15 miles offshore and then usually to visit one of the 

 off -lying islands such as Tortuga, Los Testigos, or La Orchila. During the known runs of 

 fish (tiempo de cosecha) migrant fishermen camp on these otherwise deserted islands and 

 utilize them as bases of fishing operations and for salting and drying their catches. From 

 time to time, under special conditions, as at present at Los Roques, more or less perma- 

 nent colonies of fishermen are established. Occasionally, fishing vessels go offshore to 

 handline for red-snapper and grouper, but this is by no me«is a regular occurrence. Proba- 

 bly the basic reason for the coastal nature of the fisheries is that this extent of ac- 

 tivity has always been sufficient to supply all the fishery products needed for the avail- 

 able markets. With increased demands, the fisheries doubtless will expand to offshore re- 

 gions and the fishermen will gradually develop customary offshore fishing techniques. 



The accompanying map (Figure 1) shows the present fishing grounds in Venezuela, which 

 are indicated by the stippled areas. There is no attempt made to denote quantitative fish- 

 ing intensity, but the dots merely indicate sites of fishing activity. (The shaded areas 

 are non-Venezuelan territory.) 



Fish, in general, are fairly abundant throughout the year on the coast of Venezuela. 

 However, the nature of the present fishing operations is such that very little is known of 

 the seasonal occurrence of fish offshore. From a study of monthly production records and 

 from interviews, as well as from field observations, it is quite apparent that fish are 

 more available during certain months of the year than in others. The fishermen are well 

 aware of this fact and they call the time of abundance "el tiempo de cosecha" (the harvest 

 time). During these months their biggest catches are made and salt-fish production reaches 

 its height . During the remaining months of the year fish are taken for local and home use 

 and surpluses are salted for the market. 



During the period of abundance, catches are composed, to a large extent, of migratory 

 fish such as carite, anchoa, jurel, lebranche, lamparosa, cachorreta, cabana, curbina, sierra 

 and chicharra. Outside of this period some of the above named species are taken but the 

 bulk of catches consist of pargo, mero, corocoro, arenque, tahali, lisa, pez espada (saw- 

 fish), cazon, and other fish which are more or less resident in certain areas during the 

 entire year. With the recent great increase in the demand for fresh-fish many non-migratory 

 species such as pargo, mero, and tahali are also fished for during the time of abundance 

 of ,the migratory species . Perhaps the best separation can be based on the fact that during 

 the "harvest time" fish appear more frequently in large schools — at other times they are 

 more or less scattered. 



The observations of the two fishery missions to Venezuela — one in June 1942 and the 

 other in September, October, and November, 1943— are interesting in this connection. Dur- 

 ing the 1942 study the survey party visited the Gulf of Cariaco during the height of the 

 season of abundance. Numerous schools of fish were observed, myriads of birds were present, 

 and fish-drying facilities were crowded to the utmost. Every available net, man and boat 

 was occupied. During the second study in the Gulf of Cariaco, in October and November, 

 1943, most of the producing units were tied up; very few, if any, schools of large fish 

 were seen; and, in general, there was a scarcity of fish in the markets. In November when 

 the mission proceeded eastward, however, more and more schools of fish were observed, and 

 fishermen reported that the expected runs were arriving from the eastward and passing further 

 west day by day. 



By synthesizing the various data available concerning seasonal occurrence, the follow- 

 ing statements may be made : 



Eastern Zone . — The big and compact schools of migratory fish are present from January 



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