THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



meters from the beach. In addition, surf conditions and rocks render many areas unfishable 

 to chinchorros. Thus, the fishermen must now wait until the schools of fish come within 

 range of the seine before a set can be made. While numerous schools may be Just a little 

 further offshore they cannot be taken with the present nets, and often many schools may 

 pass into the Gulf before one comes close enough inshore to be set upon. This is generally 

 true throughout the Eastern Zone and particularly so in the Gulf cf Cariaco and siround Isla 

 Margarita and Isla Coche, All indications are that the introduction of pelagic seines would 

 be a definite step toward increased production of fish since it would immediately make avail- 

 able many more times the water area which can be fished. 



■ It is considered that the following steps would be most suitable in introducing pelagic 

 seines: 



1. That 3 to 6 ringnets be purchased, built according to specifications ,i and distri- 

 buted in the Gulf of Cariaco and at Isla Margarita, 



2. That these nets be operated by local fishermen under expert supervision until the 

 former are thoroughly versed in the technique of fishing with them. 



3. That experiments be conducted tg determine if such nets could be constructed by 

 modifying present chinchorros, and if so that as many as may be desired be made 

 in this way. 



If That necessary twine and other supplies be made available in order that fishermen 

 may eventually make their own ringnets Just as they now make their own chinchorros. 



Pound nets or traps are used to great advantage in many fisheries where conditions 

 ao'e favorable. There is every reason to believe that such gear could be operated successful- 

 ly in several areas on the coast of Venezuela, The deciding factor, however, is not whether 

 fish can be caught by this gear, but rather how the fishermen of the coast would react to 

 it. It is the opinion of the mission, from a careful consideration of all the evidence 

 available, that the introduction of traps in any locality where extensive fishing is now 

 engaged in would be un'/rise since it would certainly interfere directly and indirectly with 

 present activities and would tend to force out the majority of small fishermen. However, 

 it is quite possible that traps could be installed in areas not now fished, such as the 

 Gulf of Paria, without undue adverse reaction. Such traps might also be installed in cer- 

 tain more or less isolated regions in Lake Maracaibo, the Goajira, Paraguana, the shores 

 of the Gulf of Venezuela, and in certain places in and near the Orinoco Delta, 



Since traps have never been used in Venezuela, their introduction would require expert 

 assistance from foreign sources and also considerable experimentation as to localities, 

 methods of construction, and materials to be used. Possibly the occurrence of sharks and 

 other large, voracious fish vrill make the upkeep of trap webbing difficult. In this case 

 it may be necessary to utilize heavy, wire-screening in the leads. Wooden poles and locally 

 made rope are available in Venezuela. 



A great deal has been said for and against the use of otter trawls in tropical waters . 

 In general, bottom fish are sparse on clear bottoms in these regions, V/here fish are to 

 be found the bottom is rocky or otherwise unfishable due to coral structures. On the Vene- 

 zuelan coast, hoviever, there are indications that trawling might be successful in certain 

 favorable areas. This type of fishing has been tried on several occasions. Off La Guaira 

 the nets were lost due to the rough bottom. Some fish, however, were caught but not of 

 the types sought — pargo, mero, and other first-class species. In the Gulf of Venezuela a 

 large European type trawl was used with some degree of success. Again, however, the types 

 of fish taken were not of salable species for the Venezuelan markets of that time. This 

 net, also, was eventually lost. There was no incentive to continue fishing with trawls. 

 During the field studies of the mission in Lake Maracaibo a small trawl was constructed 

 and operated. Good indications for further shrimp and flounder fishing were obtained. 

 1/ Specifications suggested are: 150 fathoms long and 15 fathoms deep. 

 Bag: 125 fathoms long, 1" stretched mesh No. 6 cotton twine. 



Landing Bag: 10 fathoms long (centered in bag) 1" stretched mesh No. 9 cotton. 

 V/ings:each 12 fathoms long 6" stretched mesh No. 9 cotton. 



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