520 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fishing. They row out to sea early in the morning, before the sea wind 

 arises, and go a good way to the leeward, and when there is sufficient 

 wind tiiey go with it, having a long, stout line floating about a fathom 

 behind the canoe. This line is furnished with hooks and glittering tin 

 floats ; and as the above-mentioned fish are very greedy they soon bite. 

 As soon as the man in the boat notices a bite he quickly hauls in the 

 line and endeavors to bring the fish close to the canoe, where it is secured 

 with a large hook. 



The boats used by the natives deserve some mention. I have already 

 mentioned that the breakers on this coast are very violent, and with the 

 exception of a few sheltered landing-places, it is impossible to land any- 

 where with a boat or even a canoe. In order to meet this difficulty to 

 ferry people from the coast to ships or for fishing, the natives use the 

 so-called balzas. In some localities, especially in Southern Peru and Chili, 

 these balzas consist of two sea-lion skins, joined by two boards, on which 

 there is a little platform ; each skin is furnished with a tube through 

 which it can be filled with air. On these balzas the cholos cross the most 

 terrible breakers, which throw the balzas high on the coast ; the very 

 moment where the breakers recede, the cholos leap up out, and stand- 

 ing on the dry land firmly hold their fragile vessel. They possess an 

 extraordinary dexterity in handling these vessels. In many places the- 

 cargoes of ships must be taken on balzas to and from the boats which 

 are at anchor outside the breakers. On other parts of the coast fire, 

 seven, and nine boards, of light wood, measuring 8 to 12 inches in diameter, 

 joined lengthwise and furnished with a similar platform, are used, and 

 on the northernmost coast of Peru the balzas only consists of a bundle 

 of reeds tied together in the shape of a cigar, 10 to 12 feet long, 2 feet 

 broad at the stern, and with a pointed prow slightly inclined upward. 

 This balza the fisherman takes on his back, after it has been used, and 

 dries it in the sun. It must be borne in mind that it never rains in these 

 latitudes. On the board balzas, which are often of considerable size, the 

 native fishermen go far out to catch codfish, frequently out of sight of 

 land. 



Such are the apparatus, boats, and methods of fishing of the natives. 

 The Italians, however, employ a more rational method of fishing. They 

 all live in or near the large cities on the coast, where they find a good 

 market for their fish, whilst the cholos are found everywhere along the 

 coast. The Italians always use boats 16 to 22 feet long, 6 feet broad, and 

 having a deck like our boats in the Great Belt. They always use nets, 

 and fish during tbe night. Their boat is their home, where they live, 

 cook, and sleep. I have already mentioned that the Italians are thrifty, 

 frugal, and economical, and are far superior to the lazy Spaniards and 

 the mixed race. They always keep their boats and their apparatus in 

 good order ; they are out early and late, and shun no trouble to earn a 

 living. They go out early in the evening, when it is nearly always 

 calm, and row many miles till they reach their fishing-places. At dusk 



