ing expeditions on boats from Batabano and other coastal fishing centers usually 

 last 6 or 7 days. 



d. Subsistence fishing and angling for sport . 



Subsistence fishermen at deep-water ports fish principally for marlin, 

 swordfish, wahoos, petos and dolphin. They use skiffs or round-bottomed open 

 boats from 15 to 18 feet long, provided with small jib and mainsail on a simple 

 mast without rigging. Motor boats are used only to a small extent. Three 

 lines are usually thrown into the water at varying depths. Sandfish are con- 

 sidered the best bait, but mullet, barracuda or pieces of kingfish are also used. 

 The catch usually consists of three or four fish, which are sold to vendors in 

 the markets or retailed in slices on the street. In the country, peasants fish 

 for smaller shallow-water or fresh-water species. 



The exact extent of subsistence fishing in Cuba is not known, but it 

 is assumed that it constitutes a source of occupation and income for a great 

 many unorganized fishermen along Cuba's long coastline. 



Angling for sport is most popular at Habana, Cienfuegos, Santiago de 

 Cuba, Sagua la Grande and Cardenas, where most of the yachts and other pleasure 

 craft are located. Habana is the principal deep-water sport fishing center. 



FISHING VESSELS 



a. a., b. and c. - Number, size, propulsion and type . 



The register of vessels kept by the Cuban Navy admittedly is not up 

 to datet but the active number can be determined from annual compulsory inspec- 

 tion reports submitted by port captains. The fishing vessels listed in 1935 

 numbered 7,626 and included craft registered since colonial times but no longer 

 in service; a large number were destroyed by hurricanes, others were lost at 

 sea, and still others were withdrawn during economic depressions. 



According to a compilation prepared by the Cuban Navy in September 

 19U6, the vessels actively engaged in fishing at present number 2,509. Nine- 

 tenths are less than 5 tons. About seven-tenths are sail-propelled and the 

 remainder are motor-driven. The number at each port, and details of tonnage and 

 propulsion are shown in Appendix IV. 



The fleet of about 60 vessels used for deep-water fishing off the 

 Mexican coast is centered in Habana and consists of 31 ice-laden vessels (neveros) 

 and 29 tank boats (viveros) l/. The ice-laden vessels reportedly bring a minimum 

 of 10,000 to 12,000 pounds and a maximum of 15,000 to 18,000 pounds per voyage, 

 while the tank-boats bring a minimum of 20,000 to 25,000 pounds and a maximum of 

 30,000 to 35,000 pounds. All the vessels are sail-propelled except five ice- 

 laden boats which are motor-driven. Vessels average 100 feet long with 23-foot 

 beam. They draw 12 feet of water aft. Under normal conditions they can make 

 about 10 knots. The usual rig is a two-mast schooner, but sometimes a topmast is 

 carried only on the main. Plain sail consists of a large mainsail with a long, 

 over-hanging boom, a foresail, a fore-staysail and jib. A number of tank-ships 

 have the entire mid-part filled with salt water which flows freely through two 

 thousand 2-inch holes at the bottom. Tunny for canning are also fished in deep 

 l/ Recently one smack was equipped with electric refrigeration and it is 



reportedly planned eventually so to equip others. Ice costs $7 to $10 per ton. 



*19U6 c 



