36 



INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY— PUBLICATION NO. 



beneath the surface of the water. To each corner 

 are attached four suspension cords ( (/ ) of equal 

 length which are in turn united to a cable, called a 

 rabiaa {c) . This is about 23 feet long (7.0 m.) and 

 attached to it at intervals are small bundles on 



•f if) rOTORA TPIOZOS 



(e) CABLE 



(C)STONE WCI&HTS 



(a) FRAME 



(b) NET 



FlciURE 3. — A crab trap, as used in Huanili.tco. 



tro::os of totora ( / ) which serve to give the line 

 a certain underwater buoyancy and thus prevent 

 its fouling on rocks along the bottom. Near the 

 upper end of the line is a chuno (gourd float) (g), 

 somewhat smaller than those used on deep-sea nets. 

 Finally, the upi)er end of the line is either held in 

 the hand or attached to the cabaUito. The bait, con- 

 sisting of entrails (_>f the bonito and other large fish, 

 or of cow liver, etc., is tied to the net. The crab 

 locks his pincers nn the bait, gets them tangled in 

 the net, ;ind is thus held fast until drawn to the 

 .surface. 



Lines may have one or more hooks and are als'i 

 provided with a lead sinker and a chuno float. They 

 are not used with poles. In tishing with line from 

 the cabaUito, one drops the line overboard in still 

 water, or attaches the line to the craft and trawls. 



COLLF.CTING 



^Vomen and children collect a variety of small 

 clams, snails, shrimp, crawfish and crabs, as well as 

 several varieties of seaweed from the cobblestone bot- 

 tom oft the beach during low tide. There are three 

 types of seaweed of which I am aware: yuvii, iiioco- 

 cho, and cochayuyii (Ouechua, "water plant"?). 

 There are three types of crabs: (1) cangrcjos and 



(2) blqiiUi, both of which are fountl in the sea. and 



(3) carrctcros. soft-shelled crabs of the beach. They 



[! 



are used in the homes, and also considerable quantities \f, 

 are taken to the Trujillo market for sale. Much of i' 

 such seaweed as is consumed in Moche comes from ii 

 I luanchaco. 



SHORE FISHING 



Shore fishing with hook and line follows the same 

 methods as those employed on the Moche playa. 

 Relatively little attention is paid to this activity in 

 Huanchaco, which regards it as a Moche speciality. 

 It is recognized in Huanchaco that the use of cabal- 

 litos is unsatisfactory on the Moche beach by reason 

 of the high surf there almost the year around. Dur- 

 ing the summer months, the Huanchaco boats fre- 

 quently stop off the Moche beach to pick up the 

 Moche fishermen and their nets (and their advice). 

 During this time of year the fish are near the surface 

 and run close inshore to the Moche playa. While 

 this attention to the Mocheros is a form of cotn-tesy, 

 it is also mutually advantageous to both sides. The 

 usual rules of division of the catch prevail on such 

 occasions. 



It is estimated that an ordinary fisherman, with one 

 net, but without a boat, is able to make from 600 to 

 1,200 soles ($91.80 to $183.60) per year in cash 

 money. Many remain in this condition, however, be- 

 cause the}' spend their funds on liquor and fiestas 

 instead of putting it into boats and nets. Three men, 

 at least, are said to ba.yt incomes of over 10,(X)0 soles 

 ($1,530) per year. 



RELIGIOUS ASPECTS 



The patron saint of fishermen is San Pedro, whose 

 feast day, June 29, is celebrated in the community. 

 Ironically, at this season of the year there is rela- 

 tively poor fishing. La Virgcn dc Socorro (The 

 \'irgin of Succor ) is believed to take a special in- 

 terest in Huanchaco and once every 5 years the 

 image of the \'irgin is brought on a pilgrimage 

 from Trujillo, under the supervision of the Hcr- 

 inandad dc Socorro. Leaving Trujillo the 30th of 

 November the pilgrimage makes the journey by 

 easy stages, one of which is a 3-day stop at the 

 chapel built for this purpose about midway along 

 the road by Don Victor Larco Herrera, and arrives 

 in Huanchaco the 24th of December to pass Christ- 

 mas. The principal dances at this fiesta are those of 

 the Pa stores (shepherds) and of the Negritos de 

 Canctc (Negroes of Canete). 



Huanchaco has its Cross cult, as has Moche. Some 

 seven crosses are to be seen on various heights 



