THE CARIBBEAM AREA. 



fished in Jamaica waters. Recently, a cooperative scheme was set up hereby pots are made 

 from wild cane. It is intended to secure idle labor to cut and weave the canes and build 

 the pots according to the fishermen's specifications. In this way, unused labor would be 

 benefitted and the fishermen would be able to spend more time fishing. Previously the 

 individual fisherman was forced to procure the materials in the interior and then construct 

 the pots himself. 



Weirs or Corrals ; — These fire not used extensively in the Caribbean area because of the 

 generally low tidal range. There are, however, a few in Puerto Rico. These are placed to 

 form a barrier across an est\iary or stream. Ttiey are constructed of bamboo like a fence 

 from one bank to the other. At points along the barrier, small semicircular enclosures are 

 built on both sides. Fish attempting to pass either upstream or downstream are stopped by 

 the barrier and follow alor^ until they reach the entrance to one of the enclosures. They 

 enter arxi swim around and around until removed with a dipnet by the watchman on the weir. 

 Ch the Pacific side of Central America, weirs are made of netting and they are set with 

 each tide in a channel or estuary. When the tide goes out, the fish are retained and are 

 then collected by the fishermen. 



Nets: — Several kinds of nets are in regular use in the Ceiribbean area. They are made 

 usually of imported materials supplanented by local products. Hanging lines may be of 

 local fibers with floats made of local light woods, Weights are usually of stones. 



Castnets t — The most frequently encountered type of net is the castnet (atarraya). 

 These are used, usually in shallow water, for catching shrimp and small fish both for bait 

 purposes and for eating. Castnets are knitted from light cotton line (No. 16 for small 

 mesh. No. 6 cotton seine twine for heavier ones) and in a variety of small mesh sizes 

 from about I/4. to 1 inch stretched. Castnets are made in the shape of a cone or f\innel 

 and there is a wooden collar fastened to the apex. To the collar is attached a retrieving 

 line. Castnets may be frcm 6 to 15 feet in diameter and 6 to 8 feet in depth. The bottom 

 is heavily weighted with leads spaced from ^ to 6 inches apart on the periphery of the 

 base of the net. Strings are attached about 12 inches apart to the cone converging at the 

 center, passing through the wooden collar and extending several feet beyond. The retriev- 

 ing line is fastened to these rib lines. 



As used for fishing, the net is held by the fishermen under one arm while he holds 

 the retrieving line and the apex of the net. The lead line or lower edge of the net is 

 partially opened by holding it between the teeth at one point, and grasping the lead line 

 at some distance from this point vdth the right hand. Tbe net is then throvm with a 

 sweeping motion of the right arm. When thrown correctly the net spreads out in a circle 

 just before hitting the water. As the net sinks to the bottom, the heavily-weighted edge 

 gathers together. This traps any fish under the net. Ttte retrieving line is then hauled 

 in and the catch removed. Some castnets have a series of pouches on the inside of the 

 lead line. These serve to trap the fish more securely. 



Haul Seines ; — ^Where suitable conditicms exist, haulseines (chinchorros) are used. 

 These are rectangular nets wnich are set in a half-circle with the concavity facing the 

 beach. The nets are then hauled up on the beach and the fish removed. Mesh sizes and 

 length and depth vary greatly from place to place. Some beach seines designed to catch 

 -'»m?n fish have wings of perhaps 1- or 1 l/2-inch stretched mesh with a bunt section of 

 1/2-inch stretched mesh. Others may have a mesh size up to 4 or 5 inches in the wings to 

 2- or 3-inches in the bunt. The lengths run from less than 100 feet up to 600 feet or 

 longer and the depths from 3 or 4 feet up to 10 or 12 feet. The nets are invariably 

 made by the fishermen themselves, Seine twine in sizes 15, 18, and 21 thread is fre- 

 quently used. Corks are usually made of local light woods. The cork and lead lines may 

 be purchased or made from local fibers but imported ropes sire preferred. Sheet lead or 

 stones are used as weights. Usually the haulseines are handed down -from generation to 

 generation, with each generation using the net and keeping it in repair. 



In order to use beach seines successfully, it is necessary to have a fairly smooth 

 bottom and not too much s\irf . Usually, jacks, mullet, snook, pon^ano, and other shore 

 fish are taken — sometimes in large numbers. The nets are usually not treated with pre- 

 servatives but in some localities they are painted with ordinary house paint. At other 



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