THE CARIBBEAlv' AREA ~ COLOMBIA 



the fisheries. In so doing, they have often antagonized the native fishermen by trying to 

 exploit them. 



There is little hope that much can be done immediately toward improving the life of 

 the majority of the fishenrien. To do this would require considerable education and the 

 establishment of organized fishing industries. This should not be construed as a criticism 

 of the Colanbian fishermen for it is knovm that they are hardworking and friendly folk. 

 The case is that these people have, for generations, used only rudimentary^ forms of fishing 

 gear and they have found it unnecessarj'", thus far, to produce great quantities of fish, 

 for their present markets are limited. 



Boats 



Approximate figures on the number of fishing craft in the eastern part of Colombia 

 indicate that 529 are used for fishing.* This does not include the T/estem and central 

 part of the coast or small dugout canoes, sail boats, and auxiliary sailboats that ore used 

 occasionally for fishing, freighting, or sport fishing. As an estimate, it may be assumed 

 that approximately 1,200 craft of varjrLn;; types engage in fishing activities at some time 

 or other. 



By far the greatest number of fishing craft in Colombia are dugout canoes (cayucos). 

 These are all locally constructed of native woods by hand labor. They range in length from 

 about six feet to 30 or 35 feet. A cajaico examined at Cartagena was 18 feet long and five 

 feet wide. Others, seen at the fish market at Barranquilla, were about 25 feet in length 

 and five to six feet in width, tost ca:'/ucos have ribs built into the inside of the hull to 

 strengthen it and they are equipped with thwarts. Many, used in the sea, are fitted with 

 one or more masts and sails, while those used in canals or cienagas are poled. The pre- 

 dominant shape is that of a canoe. The craft are usually double-ended and have rounded 

 sections. There is usually no decking. Keels are very shallow, if they exist at all. 

 Ca^Ticos are subject to great variation in size and shape depending on the builder. Although 

 they are expertly handled by the native fishermen, they cannot be regarded as good fishiing 

 craft, 



A relatively small number of sailboats, resembling the Venezuelan "goletas" are in iise. 

 These vessels are used chiefly for freight ihg but engage in fishing at times — chiefly off- 

 shore. These vessels range up to 50 feet and are built of wood. Some of these craft are 

 equipped v/ith motors and it is reported that six of this type were in use at Santa iarta. 



Little is known of the fishery activities of the inhabitants ofthe islands of San 

 Andres, Providencia, and the cays owned by Colombia off the coast of Central America. 

 Evidently there is considerable turtle fishing at times and probably fish are caught, both 

 for use on the islands and for salting for export trade. 



Gear 



All of the fishing apparatus in use at the present time may be classed as simple and 

 rudimentary. The predominant forms are the castnets (atarrayas), haul seines (chinchorros), 

 and handlines (anzuelos = hooks). The use of dynamite, while illegal, is widespread. Spears 

 and harpoons are used to some extent particularly in the cienaga and river fishing. Fish 

 pots (nasas) are used to a limited extent. Practically all the fishing apparatus is construct- 

 ed by the fishermen from imported materials. 



* These figures were reported to the Institute de Fomento Industrial at Bogota on 

 May 21, 191^2 by Sr. Raul Franco. 



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