MOCHE: A PERUVIAN COASTAL COMMUNITi'— GILLIN 



aspect of Huanchaco fishing. These craft are made 

 of a species of reed (totora) bound in bundles into 

 the shape shown in figure 2 and plate 9, upper (lejt), 

 Imver (lejt), and middle (left). In essence, the 

 cabillito is a one-man raft with a pointed bow and 

 a square stern, made of four tapering cylindrical 

 bundles of reeds. The entire population, including 

 children of 10 years and older, know how to make 

 these craft, which are used by children for sport 

 and by children and adults alike for line fishing and 

 the catching of crabs. The caballitos vary from 9 

 feet 8 inches to 11 feet 4 inches in length (3 to 3.5 

 m.) and vary from 20 to 28 inches in width at the 

 widest part. They are propelled by a paddle about 

 8 feet IJ^ inches (2.5 m.) long and 3 to 4 inches 

 wide. It is simply a flattened piece of split "Guaya- 

 quil cane," which is held by both hands in the mid- 

 dle and used as a double-ended paddle, but without 

 having a special treatment at the ends in the form 

 of paddle blades. 



As shown in the sketch in figure 2, a-c, the typical 



CAJA (0 



TOTORA ROLLS 



FiGUKE 



HUANCANA (e) 



QUI RAN A (d) 



-KxpI.in.-jtory diagram of a cabatlito del mar, as used 

 in Huanchaco. 



caballito consists of the following parts : Four 

 bundles (bastoiics) of totora reed, two of which 

 (a) are large, basal bundles tied side by side to form 

 the body of the raft, and two smaller and shorter 

 bundles (b), tied side by side and on top of the 

 (a) bundles. Some caballitos consist of only the 

 two (c) basal bundles (as in pi. 9, middle {Icjt) ). 

 The {b) bundles end 18 to 24 inches forward of the 

 stern of the craft, leaving a small flat cockpit (c), 

 known as the caja of the caballito, where the operator 

 sits or kneels and where he carries his fishing gear. 

 The forward end of the caja is protected slightly 

 from the waves by the wall formed by the ends of 

 the {b) rolls of totora. The binding of the individual 

 rolls of totora is called qiiirana {d) and is a light 

 rope or heavy cord made of liilo de pavilo, which is 

 wound around the totoras of the roll in spiral fashion. 

 The heavier binding which, in turn, encircles the 



four rolls and holds the entire craft in shape is called 

 the liuangaim (e) and is made of cabo de manila. 

 The totora itself is obtained from Huanchaquita, a 

 small settlement situated a few kilometers down the 

 coast, near the ruins of Chan Chan. Two soles will 

 buy enough for a large caballito. If in constant use, 

 one of these craft either becomes waterlogged or 

 starts to disintegrate after 12 to 14 days of use. They 

 are always dragged out of the water and stood up 

 on the beach on the stern end when not being used. 



In operation, the fisherman sits or kneels in the 

 caja. Some prefer to dangle their legs in the water 

 on each side, as in riding horseback (hence the name 

 of the craft, perhaps), although this is chilly in 

 winter. Otherwise, the legs are doubled up under 

 the operator, who is kneeling in the caja, or in other 

 cases straddle the part of the craft forward of the 

 caja. Occasionally caballitos venture out of sight of 

 land, but usually are used for fishing within a mile 

 or two of shore, beyond the zone of breakers and 

 heav}' swells. Considerable practice is required to 

 prevent a caballito from turning over in the sea, but 

 an experienced operator has no difificulty in cross- 

 ing heavy swells and breaking waves of consid- 

 erable height. A favorite sport of young boys is to 

 "ride the waves" with the craft in to shore in the 

 manner of surfboard riders. Whatever the manner 

 of operation, even the most experienced operator must 

 be prepared to have at least the lower part of his 

 body thoroughly wet. So far as I know, adult women 

 among the Huanchaco population never venture out 

 in these craft. 



Deep-sea boat fishermen resort to caballito fishing 

 during periods when the fish at sea are not running 

 well. The craft is used for three types of fishing: 

 crabbing, line fishing, and !iet fishing. Every craft 

 carries a net, called a calcal, which is a bag net about 

 2 feet deep with a purse-string mouth, which can 

 be oi>ened up for casting when fishing, and can be 

 drawn shut when the not is used as a container for 

 crabs and other booty. The interstices of these nets 

 are about 1 inch on a side. 



The era!) trap or saca is shown in plale 8, lower 

 (left). As shown also in the sketch in figure 3, a-g, 

 it consists of a square frame (a) of four pieces of 

 cane (bamboo) tied together at the corners. Over 

 these is stretched a net (b) which hangs dow^n below 

 the level of the frame to a depth of 6 to 8 inches 

 in which the bait is tied in place. The four corners 

 of the frame are weighted with cobblestones (c) tied 

 in place for the purpose of carrying the apparatus 



