THE CARIBBEAi; Al^A — COLOLSIA 



Castnets ; — These are used quite extensively — particularly in shallov; water — either from shore 

 or froi,-L a boat. Janson (1941) in an unpublished report to the Instituto de Fomento Industri- 

 al reports that in Cienaga Grande the fisherman throws a ball of wood into the water some 30 

 feet away from the boat. It is believed that the fisn, feeling the impact of the ball in the 

 water flee but return almost immediately out of curtosity. The fisheiman then casts his net 

 covering and trapping the fish. Janson writes that tliis sj'stem seems disadvantageous because 

 so much "^dynamite is used in fishing that the fish have become v;ary v.lth the result that when 

 the flshenaan throws the ball of wood they flee and do not return. 



The castnets are of four different mesh sizes ranging from atjout 3A" stretched to about 

 1 1/2" stretched mesh. They are built of inported cotton twine. The radius varies, but an 

 average net would probably measure eight to 10 feet. The catch made by these nets is small 

 and in most places the fish taken are used for bait. 



Beach Seines ; — These are used quite extensively where suitable areas exist. Fishermen of 

 Taganga (near Santa Marta) utilize seven clrLnchorros in their fishing. Some of these are 60 

 fathoms in length. They require eight to 10 men to fish them and they are set only when 

 schools of fish are seen to be available. The nets are set from a cayaco wrdch sets the net 

 in a semi-circle from the shore. The ends of the net are gradually hauled to shore and 

 finally the center is pulled up on the beach with the fish entrapped within its meshes. 



In the Goajira region, the Indian? use a very small chinchorro, two to three meters in 

 length. They also use a larger type vdth 8-inch mesh for capturing sharks. 



Beach seines are highly useful where suitable conditions occur but those in use at the 

 present tine in Colombia are generally too sma-l to capture quantities of fish. 



Hook and Line ; — This type of fishing is carried on in practically every region where fishing 

 occurs. The hooks are imported and in sane cases the lines are also. Every fisherman has a 

 special way of his own to rig his equipment. 



Dynamite ; — ^"ffhile the use of dynamite is illegal, so many fish are taken v.lth it that it must 

 almost be i^egarded as a means of production. There is no doubt that this activity should be 

 discouraged since it is not only extremely harmful to the fish resources but also definitely 

 dangerous to the men using it. Many fish go to waste and those v;hich are taken are not of 

 as good quality as tnose taken by other more legitimate means since they decompose much more 

 rapidly. The use of dynamite stifles what ingenuity the fishermen may have to develop more 

 efficient methods. 



POTENTIAL FISHERY INDUSTRIES 



Unused Fishery Resources 



As noted in a previous section, little is known of the extent and type of the fish 

 resources of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. There are vast stretches of coastline, of 

 cienagas, and bays now only sparsely fished, if at all. Except on the immediate coast, fish- 

 ing is limited to a few fishermen who venture out in their cranky cajoicos to catch pargo 

 (snapper) and mero (grouper). The limitations of the fishing craft and gear used are great. 



There are a number of unused resources but the development of each calls for technical 

 guidance, modem machinery, and the outlay of capital. 



Sharks are practically unutilized even though they occur in large numbers. Some 

 interest has been shown in developing such a fishery, primarily for liver oils. 



Bottom fish, such as red snappers and groupers, have borne most of the brunt of hook 

 and line fishing but there are numerous areas where these fish can be taken in abundance. 



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