THE CARIBBEAN AREA 



The largest fishing boats in Venezuela are knovm as "goletas" and these are locally- 

 built of imported and domestic woods. The size ranges up to 60 or 70 feet and a nunber 

 of them are equipped with auxiliary motors. These vessels are used for offshore handline 

 fishing but more usually for fish transport. At Porlamar, Isla Margarita, there are many 

 medium-sized sailboats used in pearling during normal tines and for fishing at the present 

 time. These vessels average about 50 feet in length, are schooner-rigged and are excellent 

 sea boats. They have good characteristics, being built with flared bows, a good deal of 

 sheer and rounded stems. Some have auxiliary engines while others utilize outboard motors 

 fastened to a rail on the stern, A specialized type of sailing boat is used for trolling 

 aroung Isla Margarita. These are about 35 feet in length. They are generally of the 

 piragua-type hull but usually are made more seaworthy by the addition of splash guards of 

 canvas fastened along the rail. An outboard rudder us used. Propulsion is by means of a 

 powerful lateen sail and jib. Another type, also used for trolling, is about the sane 

 length but has a blunt bow and carries a stubby bowsprit. Both types are eqid-pped with 

 outrigger trolling poles, and in this way a number of trolling lines can be fished simul- 

 taneously. 



In Panama, on the Pacific side, there are a number of small sailing craft of fishing 

 tj'pe Trtiich are evidently an adaptation of the Mediterranean felucca. These are locally 

 called "chalupas". They range from 27 to 30 feet in length and are con5>letely decked over, 

 except for a small cockpit. Hold space with hatch covers is provided for nets and iced 

 fish. The boats are double-ended, have considerable sheer and low keels. The rudder is 

 slung outboard and these little craft are reputedly good sailers. The sail is of lateai 

 type and jibs are sometimes iised. 



In British Honduras the most conmonly used boat is called the "dore/'. These range 

 from 16 to 4.0 feet in length and usually are equipped with live wells. They carry a 

 gunther-rigged sail and jib, Doreys are locally-built and are of good design. They are 

 double-enders and en^iloy outboard rudders. Many are decked over in the forward part and 

 there is usually a cockpit. The well is situated amidships and is coverea with a hatch. 

 Larger sailing vessels, called smacks, also are used for fishing. These range from 2 1/2 

 to 6 1/2 gross tons and require a crew of frran 3 to 5 men. They are eq\:iipped with live 

 wells and are used for offshore fishing. They carry a good spread of sail and are capable 

 sea boats. 



Cuban fishing craft range in size from 150-ton schooners down to small 15 or 20-foot 

 sailboats. Most Cuban boats are of schooner- or sloop-type, and are equipped with sails, 

 Uany of the larger vessels have auxiliary engines. Most of the large schooners and prac- 

 tically all of the smaller ones are built locally. A few of the large offshore fishing 

 schooners were introduced from New England or Nova Scotia, A particularly handy type of 

 vessel is found at Batabano, the headquarters for extensive sponge fisheries. These 

 vessels range from 50 to 75 feet in length, are schooner- or sloop-rigged, and are excell- 

 ent sea boats. Many are equipped with live wells and some with auxiliary engines. 

 There is probably a greater nxuber of large sailing craft used for fishing in Cuba than 

 anywhere else in the Caribbean, Most of the smaller sailing craft are rigged with sails — 

 either gaff-rlgged or spritsail-rigged. Numerous variants of design were noted in Cvban 

 sailing craft, but in general they are well built and quite suited to the type of fishing 

 in which they are engaged. 



Fishing boats in Haiti are, in general, not as well-built or well-designed as else- 

 Tfhere. They range from 14 to 40 feet in length and many are open types with little or no 

 deckir^. Host are gaff-rigged or spritsail-rigged. They usually have square or round 

 stems with either inboard or outboard rudders. Most are constructed locally, employing 

 some local wood but mostly imported planking. 



Both rowboats and sailboats are used in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, The 

 rowboats are usually flat-bottomed skiffs from 15 to 20 feet in length and 3 to 4 feet beam. 

 They are generally built on the lines of a dory although some are little more than fLoating 

 boxes. Few, if any, have keels. Some carry sails. The construction is invariably rough, 

 sailboats are of two general types. One is small — 2 tons gross or less — and is not decked 

 over or fitted with live wells. The other type ranges from 3 to 5 tons gross, is decked 

 and equipped with live wells, AH sailboats are locally constructed. Ribs, knees, and 

 other frames are of native wood but imported pine is used for planking. They are roughly 

 but strongly built, being fitted with a single mast and bowsprit with the sails triangular 



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