THE CATiIBBEA-fJ AKEA — COLOMBIA 



throughout the year, Kingfish, Spanish mackerel and barracuda are taken by hook and line 

 fished near the surface, and the best time is in the period from ilay to August. Schools 

 of kingfish, Spanish mackerel, barracuda and sardines are seen at some 10 miles offshore 

 during the same period. Tarpon are taken fairly close inshore, usually with hook and 

 line, but frequently Tri.th dynamite. 



Shrimp are tal-cen in inshore sections particularly in brackish v/ater areas. 



In the Cienaga Grande, all the fish taken are brackish water types. Among them are 

 a number of t:,pes of mullet, "mapale", cro?J<ers, mojarras, tarpon, snook, characins, and 

 three species of "chivo". Also taken are shrimp and mangrove oysters. The entire catch 

 of fish here is taken with dynamite, castnets, and hook and line. The oysters are 

 gathered by hand and the shrimp by castnets. There is widespread activity in burning 

 shells for line, and it is said that the limeburners enploy both living oysters and dead 

 shells for tliis purpose. 



Fran Panta de Gaira to the mouth of the Rio Viejo, the following kinds of fish are 

 t alien: 



Tarpon Lliillet Anchovies "Dulcino" 



Spanish Mackerel Jacks Red Snapper "Arepa" 



Barracuda Sardines Grouper 



Tlie red snapper and grouper are talcen 8 to 10 miles offshore in 50 to 100 fathoms 

 with handlines. "Arepa", jacks, and small barracuda (gangancho) school in depths up to 8 

 fathoms. Tarpon, mullet, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, jacks, and saixiines school near the 

 coast and are often taken with the use of dynamite. 



Tarpon may be caught at any time of the year, but the best ra.onths are February to 

 October and they are most abundant during April and May. Spanish mackerel are most abundant 

 in the months from April to June, barracuda from May to August, mullet of one species 

 (lebranche) December to May, of another species (lisa) May to August, jacks all year around, 

 and sardines April to August. 



The species and their distrtbution along the remainder of the coast follows rather 

 closely the examples given above, '"/hile tunas and swordfish may possibly be found further 

 offshore none are now taken. 



* Comparative Abundance of Species 



So little is known of the abundance of fish on the coast of Colombia that it would be 

 futile to draw any conclusions except general ones. Until a much expanded fishery is con- 

 ducted, along with the necessary exploratory, statistical, and biological studies, little 

 can be said. There is perhaps already some depletion of coastal types of fish in some areas 

 due primarily to the use of dynamite. From all accounts, however, it is apparent that the 

 mai^ne fisheries of Colombia can produce a great deal more fish. 



FISHERY LNDUSTRIES 



Early colonizing centered in the high plateau areas, and settlements on the coasts and 

 along the rivers were established chiefly to facilitate commerce to and from the interior. 

 Therefore, only along limited sections of the seacoasts and in the courses of the main 

 rivers liave the native fishes of Colombia been important in the food of Colombians. Native 

 Indians of these sections had long since grown accustomed to catching fish for a major part 

 of their food. In the areas where fish aboxmded, along the coasts and in the larger sluggish 



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