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A14   LOCAL
                Tuesday 26 November 2019















            The fisheries of the 19th century                                                                            Episode XLV - (45)





               ORANJESTAD — The so-called Continental Bank between Aruba and the
               opposite coast reaches a depth of about 650 feet. The sea is very rich in
               fish here. From indigenous native people times fishing  and sea creatures
               such  as  turtles,  octopus  squids,  conch  and  many  type  of  crustaceans
               have formed a means of subsistence for the native Aruban inhabitants.
               Especially along the west coast of the island where the fishing grounds
               are settlements of fishermen. Until the arrival of the oil -industry Aruban
               fishermen could supply Aruba’s wants.





































            Cruising off the coast the Aruban fish-  typical of the Arubans that only here
            erman patiently waited for a fish will-  were the nets properly cared for. Else-
            ing to snap at the bait on the drag-   where they looked neglected.This sort
            line, in nets and traps. Veritable giants  of  work  will  also  have  caused  some
            are  sometimes  caught.  Barracudas  hammocks to be made on Aruba.
            weigh from 9 to 44 pounds and mea-     Our  fisheries  which  in  times  of  old
            sure from 3 to almost 7 feet. The king-  could  meet  the  demand  of  the  is-
            fish has a weight from 22 to 44 pounds;  land have been unable to do so for
            the moclat may tip the scales at 155,  a considerable period now. Approxi-
            whilst garfish, having a length of nine  mately 160 people earn their living in
            feet, weigh over 132 pounds.           this  branch  of  this  industry.  Rancho,
                                                       which  stands  for  a  shed,  nowadays
            When fishing with deep-sea lines just  east Oranjestad, is where quarter has
            over the bottom of the sea the boat  remained the fishermen’s settlement.
            is kept in place by means of a piece  It was in the middle of the last century
            of rock serving as an anchor. The two  that  about  45  fishermen  lived  there.
            most important species of fish by far  On  Horses'  Bay  about  ten  fishermen
            caught in this manner are the pargo  pursue  their  calling  in  a  small  ways
            or red snappers and a variety of grou-  by  using  fish  traps  called  canastas.
            pers like the mero, jeanpao and the  These  where  laid  in  the  shallow  wa-
            wowo di boyo.                          ter. At Cas Paloma there are 4 fisher-
                                                   men, at Santa Cruz 6, in the ancient
            As a source of income, however, fish-  fishing village of Sabaneta 10, at Cura
            ing  did  not  amount  too  much.  On  Cabai 3 and at Sint Nicolaas another
            Aruba  and  Curacao  there  were  no  7. Noord had also its old fishing village
            facilities  to  keep  a  large  quantity  of  with some 25 fishermen living close to
            fish for some days. Not until 1911 was  the beach. The further removed from
            there  the  first  cold  storage  but  with  Lago, the more fishermen there are.
            restricted  accommodation  on  Aru-
            ba  that  was  to  be  put  into  use.  It  is        Continued on Page 15
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