THE VENEZUELAN SALT-FISH INDUSTRIES 



Nasas (fish pots) are now in general use, particularly around La Guaira and to the 

 eastward. Because no mechanical power is used in hauling these pots the depths fished are 

 not great. In addition, the small rowboats or sailboats used by pot fishermen do not allow 

 for fishing at any distance from shore. Larger vessels, such as those described under hand- 

 lining could tend pots on offshore banks. Hauling would be by winch. Calculating 15 min- 

 utes as the time required to haul, empty, and set one pot, it should be possible to visit 

 30 to 40 pots per day. If the pots were hauled on alternate days, two ranges or strings 

 could be fished. Possibly handlining and pot fishing could he engaged in simultaneously 

 by using dories for the handlining. These dories could be set out in the morning and picked 

 up in the evening and would fish handlines in the interval that the mother ship was tend- 

 ing the pots. 



It is the opinion of the mission that the present abundance of lebranche in Unare I,agoon 

 will allow for increased fishing by other forms of gear than the atarraya (castnet) now 

 in exclusive use. Possibly filetes (gill nets) could be authorized for fishing in such a 

 way that each fisherman could use only one or two nets and during only a specified time. 

 It is ^uite evident that much fish are now being lost because the atarrayas are unable to 

 take them; and avith the seasonal increases of salinity in the lagoons, many fish die, 



CRAFT 



Every type of craft now used in fishing in Venezuela could be made more usable by add- 

 ing a motor. This, however, would be a Utopian condition and hardly wise or necessary, 

 since the craft now fishing are quite suitable for meeting the present demand. 



With the introduction of more productive fishing gear, however, new types of fishing 

 craft will be required. It is the considered opinion of the mission that the introduction 

 of new techniques must be gradual and that the conversion of craft now familiar to the fish- 

 ermen should be the first step. With this In mind, the large piraguas now used in the chin- 

 chorro fishery could easily be converted to powered seine boats. Such craft would then be 

 suitable for sheltered-water fishing, as in the Gulf of Cariaco. Structurally, only the 

 stern part of the present piragua would require change. The stem should be widened, round- 

 ed, and lowered. The bow section might also be built up somewhat to make the boat drier. 

 Forward of amidships a small diesel engine of 20 to 40 horsepower should be installed. Work- 

 ing through a power take-off equipped with a clutch, a doubledrum hoist should be installed 

 in the after third of the boat, preferably near the center line. A demountable purse davit 

 equipped with two snatch blocks should be installed on the port gunwale with a fairlead 

 to the hoist. The boat should be partially decked fore and aft, and a short, stubbv mast 

 and stout boom should be rigged. 



The net, a ringnet preferably, is piled on the stern, A small skiff is used as a seine 

 skiff and the first end of the net is fastened to it. When it is desired to set the net, 

 the seine skiff is cast off from the motorboat and its inertia in the water helps to pull 

 the net off the stern of the motorboat. Conversion of e)dsting piraguas can be accomplished 

 in any of the boat-building centers. If it is not desired to rebuild the piraguas then 

 this recommended type of boat can be built new. The catch of these boats can be landed 

 in unmotorized piraguas and towed to pert or it can be brought in by a motorized scow or 

 pickup boat. 



As development proceeds, it will probably be found advisable to build larger and more 

 powerful boats with a greater operating radius. These boats could be used for travding, 

 trolling, livebait fishing, ring-netting, and shark fishing. For handlining and offshore 

 pot fishing goletas or tres punos would be most suitable. As the need and desire arises 

 for larger boats of modern design.it would perhaps be best to secure representative types 



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