Introduction
- Tradition, identity and cultural heritage maintain an indissoluble link that is valid to envision a group, community, region or nation. In the process of their activity, men produce, first of all, the material conditions of their existence: means of life and means of work.
The community under study
- The La Marina community is located northeast of the municipal seat of Campechuela, Granma province, in a coastal stretch of the Guacanayabo Gulf, one of the most important fishing areas in eastern Cuba with a population of around a thousand inhabitants. It depends greatly on the products that its inhabitants extract from the marine environment, since the settlement began to grow around the year 1930. Since then the fishing tradition has marked the process of cultural evolution of the community.
Research Objective
We delve into the cultural heritage generated by fishing activity with the aim of assessing the influence of the fishing tradition in shaping the cultural identity of the community. For this we refer to the arts and fishing boats, and other outstanding aspects of daily life related to the sea.
Research Methods and Techniques
- Participant observation and interviews with residents of the community.
Development
- Generally, fishing has progressed where geographical conditions allow. Communities that develop small-scale fishing, as is the case, depend on artisanal means that the community itself has elaborated.When we approach the community we stumble upon, at first glance, an indeterminate number of fishing boats that remain close to the coast, immediately identifying it as a fishing community. However, as we delve into the investigation we discover that there are other elements that enrich this condition.
Fishing arts
Fishermen recognize as their main fishing gear:
- Atarrayas: woven in the community by the fishermen themselves. It is preferably used to capture bait (shrimp, sardines, anchovies, picú and other small species). Cotton thread nets: used for fishing medium and larger species such as shirts, snooks and others. They are generally manufactured and repaired in the community itself. Chinchorro: Long and narrow net that fishermen use to catch fish in the sea. It is used in the capture of medium-sized fish. Strings: ¨… Nylon comes by pounds or kilograms; If you are going to fish red, you use a 35 gauge; horse mackerel, 40, 50 and 60; saw, 70, 80… ” Hooks: different types are used depending on what you are going to fish. For example: numbers 3 and 4 are for biajaibas; 5 and 6 for saws; 7 and 8 for saws and horse mackerel. Spoons: metal object that simulates a fish. They take the place of the bait on the hook. Also included are the barbed wire for fishing saws, picuas and horse mackerel; they are attached to the string by means of a gardan or metal screw, and the hook is placed or tied at the end. They are arranged following this sequence: cord-gardán-wire-hook.
Boats
- The use of cayucos, boats, small and medium sailboats, motor boats predominates. The community does not use large vessels, this is due to the fact that the catches are destined for the consumption of the fishermen themselves and their families. The construction of the vessels is carried out by fishermen who learned from their parents: “… I learned by watching to my parents, who lived here in this house ”. Among the oldest fishermen it is common to find that the same person builds boats, weave nets, etc. Rowing canoes are preferably built from Ceiba. It is built by drilling the upper part of the trunk of the tree while it is in a horizontal position. Two thirds of the total volume is hollowed out, the remaining third part is carved on the outside to guarantee the stability of the boat when sailing, that is, that third part is occupied by the bow and stern;the last being four inches long from the base to the top edge. Generally reaches forty inches in beam, reducing the bow to six inches. Boats and longboats: these have the characteristic of being manufactured with a predominance of boards on the starboard and port sides, which are arched and embedded in the roa (bow) and el codaste (stern). In the parts where the boards are joined, putties and other materials are used to achieve the impermeability of the boat, they are moved with oars, although since 1960 many fishermen have fitted motors.that arch and embed in the roa (bow) and the stern (stern). In the parts where the boards are joined, putties and other materials are used to achieve the impermeability of the boat, they are moved with oars, although since 1960 many fishermen have fitted motors.that arch and embed in the roa (bow) and the stern (stern). In the parts where the boards are joined, putties and other materials are used to achieve the impermeability of the boat, they are moved with oars, although since 1960 many fishermen have fitted motors.
Transmission of the fishing tradition
The testimonies collected reflect that the knowledge about fishing was acquired in the area where they live:
- “I learned with my old man. Later he had an agility that seemed to me that the old man was very slow; I had to understand age ”. "With the old man, we have taught boys who are tough, however others learned to make boats." "I learned with friends who lived nearby, neighbors… with people from here." "I learned with Leoncio and with a pile of old men from here in La Marina." "I learned with my father and I finished learning in Manzanillo."
When we delved into what it means for the community to dedicate all that time to fishing, we obtained expressions like these:
- “In the first place, as I live by the seashore… it is like the peasant who lives off the land. Almost everyone who lives here is a fisherman and it is something that the children inherit ”. “Well, it is a part of my life, I have kept from it… not having bad will with anyone; help in relief cases. Zacarías is the best boatman here, he is willing to help the boats. Fishing has to be like this. " "Fishing was my life, see if this is so, if you go out to ask… I was one of the good ropes, I have a lot to tell about fishing."
Currently a significant number of the oldest fishermen do not take part in the fisheries, this group has become a source of consultation for the new generations of fishermen, who are looking for information regarding the construction of boats, repair of engines, preparation of fishing gear. fishing, night orientation on the high seas, bait hauling, etc.
The daily hustle and bustle of fishing in La Marina reaches significant proportions, the bait is caught in low-lying areas relatively close to the community's location; The trips to the fishing areas are made alone or in small groups to be able to provide mutual aid in case of breakdowns or shipwrecks. They always leave between 11:00 pm and 03:00 am, provided with baits, fishing gear, drinking water, food, etc.
The largest mobilizations for fishing occur in the months of April, to fish for saws, shirts and horse mackerel; mayo, snapper and snook; June, July and August, cuberas; The sierra is fished all year round, although according to fishermen the largest spots appear during storms, that is, in the months of October, November and December.
The community dedicates many hours daily to the activity in question, they only stop doing it when there are adverse weather conditions. In parallel, boats, nets, cast nets, etc. are repaired.
Fishing significance...
- “For me it is life, it is more important than life itself. Whoever has a boat has to take care of it, if he takes a little water… you have to lay down your life, my boat was never damaged by the winds ”. “I made a family with fishing, I grew up in the sea. Some say to me Diogenes, you live in the sea! "For me it has been the most important thing all my life, at least the sea to look for everything." "See if I have fished, that when we left the mill we would go fishing."
Fishing and culinary culture
- Raw fish : Any fish is taken and small fillets are cut, after removing the bones. The small fillets are placed in a bowl and lemon, cumin, pepper and salt are added. Let it rest for several hours until they take on the flavor of the ingredients. After this time it is ready for consumption; it is prepared to share in small groups of friends, preferably when rum is consumed. Sierra marinade :It is made from slices of saw, which are fried in boiling oil. One day after they have been fried or the same day, while they are cold, they are dipped in cold oil mixed with crushed garlic, cumin and pepper. It is consumed 4 or 5 days after being dipped in this last portion of oil and ingredients, accompanied by white onions. It can be made with other species of fish. Horse mackerel with potatoes : A sauce is prepared, based on garlic, onion, some peppers, olives, water, dry wine… the pieces of fish are added, as well as the diced potatoes. According to the fishermen two blocks away the smell is felt. Dried shrimp :Take small shrimp, wash them well and boil them in a pan with little water and plenty of salt; When it starts to boil and foam appears in the pan, they are removed and exposed to the sun for two days, in a blanket. Later they are crushed inside a sack to obtain the mass, which is ready for consumption. It can be ground to make fried foods, rice, or to accompany drinks. Shrimp enchilado . It is made with shrimp , to which lemon is added, starting to cook with tomato juice, garlic and oil.
Many people who live in the community carry the names of fish or seabirds as pseudonyms:
- “There is a family: The bonefish. You say: Hey bonefish! and they respond ”. "They call Rafael Castillo the picúa". “There is Patao. They call it Patao and there is patao, it is a tasty little fish ”. “The nickname is used because we live in fishermen's areas. I don't have that long beak, that's normal in the kids in these neighborhoods: They call me the picúa ”.
Locker room
- The neglected personal appearance is related, to some extent, with the demands of fishing: regularly you do not fish with shoes or pants, there are even occasions when the use of shirts is not important. When the boats are transferred to the rustic berths or stranded in the sand after the fishing operations, it is necessary to do without footwear, because if they are worn they deteriorate easily, unless they are made of rubber; still, it would hinder movement in the water. Anglers regularly maneuver in shorts and without shoes.
Sense of belonging
- “… I have lived in this place for many years and I have affection for it. I have many neighbors and the people of La Marina respect me a lot ”. “I get along well with everyone, I have lived here since 65, when the houses were built. Previously I lived on the seashore, all my children were born there ”. "My old folks were born here, I grew up and if I go to another place I don't feel well anymore." "I was born here, I grew up and this is my neighborhood."
Conclusions
The fishing tradition has a marked influence on shaping the cultural identity of the La Marina community.
The existence and use of fishing gear and boats shows that the community selected them in the process of generational interaction because of the importance they have for themselves and for the continuity of the fishing tradition. At the same time they allow it to be identified as a fishing community
The fishing tradition influences the community cultural spectrum in the following areas:
- Crafts: Presence of wood carving of boats (cayucos), oars and needles to weave nets; mesh fabric of nets and cast nets; Metalwork of anchors and plumb bobs, as well as the presence of fish and seabirds as ornaments in the homes Culinary art: There is a predominance of the consumption of fish, which they make on the most diverse occasions. Clothing: The use of pants is observed shorts and a general absence of footwear, as the fishing culture demands it. Language: The fact that a considerable part of the residents use pseudonyms related to marine species stands out.
