/ Methods of Fishing and Types of Gear Used 



The sea fish tiiat enter the Shatt-al-At*ab and the southern swamps do so to 

 feed on the rich grazings that are found in these waters, and, subsequently, to 

 spawn there. These fish are caught by nets, hook and line, spear, and by fish 

 traps ( milans )« Fish traps are also used on the Iraqi and Iranian coasts to a 

 great extent. Milans are fence-like erections made of date palm branches stripped 

 of their leaves and interwoven with string. At low tide level these branches are 

 imbedded on the shore. I^.en the tide rises the milans are inundated by water and 

 trap the unwary fish at ebb tide. Then the fishermen simply collect their c^tch. 

 Large quantities are caught in this manner, but rough weather easily destroys 

 these frail traps and the fishermen then resort to the use of nets. 



There are fifty registered Iraqi sailing craft engaged in fishing in the 

 Persian Gulf and approximiately 200 Iranian craft. These vessels fish with sm^all 

 floating nets, and are almost' all • privately owned. The number of fisherm.en in 

 each craft are from three to four men, often relatives. ■Allien the craft and net 

 are owned by one fisherman who employs others not his relatives, he normally 

 furnishes the food and gives his fellow fishermen a share of the profits from the 

 sale of the fish. The small sailing cra.ft used by these fishermen are- open, one- 

 m.asted vessels, without a deck. 



Comxmercial Fishing Enterprises 



Sea fish caught at the mouth of the Shatt~al-Arab river are brought to Fao 

 and thence to Bcasra, Iraq to be sold at auction in the bazar. 



The Anglo-Iranian Oil Com.pany at Abadan, Iran, vjhich has a European population 

 of about 2,000 purchases considerable quantities of fish. Two large motor 

 launches have been assigned by the Company to transport fish for the Abadan 

 bazar and Company staff mess. These launches supplied with ice go out in the 

 Gulf each day and buy from the fishermen whatever quantity of fish obtainable. 

 'The price at vv^hich the fish is sold in the Abadan market to contractors is con- 

 trolled by the oil com-pany. 



At Bandar Abbas, Iran, the Iranian Governiiient opersites a sardine canning ' 

 factory. The plant is only operated four inonths each year because of the intense 

 heat there during the other eight mionthsc As this out of the way installation 

 is over 600 miles from Easra, little is known here about the yearly production 

 of tinned sardines or about the methods of sardine fishing at Bandar Abbas. 



The Basra Port Directorate plans to operate a small refrigerated fishing 

 trawler with a capacity of 100 tons from Fao, Iraq. The trawler is now being 

 built in the United iUngdom and should be ready for fishing at the end of 1948. 

 The fish will be brought to Sasra, where 80^ of it will be transported to Baghdad 

 by refrigerated railway car and the remainder vdll be distributed in Basra. The 

 trawler will be captained by a British Master, will be maintained by a British 

 engineer, and m.anned by an Iraqi crevj»' • - 



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