BASSETERRE St.Kitts,August 3rd, 2011 - The town of OLD ROAD has always been known to be an important place for its contribution to our Federation and more particularly to St Kitts in the field of agriculture, but more especially in the fishing industry.
For generations the Old Road community has been known for the fishing activities of its men and women - dating back to the days when fishing boats would go to sea in the wee hours of the morning to ply their trade returning at dawn with catches of ballyhoo and gars.
The community can remember the time when the fisher women, using dung baskets, would set off from Old Road using the Old Military Trail starting at Wingfield Estate Yard, winding their way through the Peter Manning Ridge area, climbing up to Wingfield Level before joining the trail that would eventually take them to Philips and Molyneux villages on the northern side of St Kitts. They would eventually return to Old Road via the same route.
How hard it must have been for those women, for that trail is by no means short and it is very difficult in some places like Nine (ton)Turn Ghaut where they would climb down hundreds of feet on the one side while climbing up over hundreds of feet on the other side. Our fore-parents should be admired for their ‘stick to it’ attitude to work and also for their contribution to the development of our fishing industry in Old Road.
While some things have changed, others like catching fish remain an integral part of the lives of many in the community. It is true that unlike the fishermen of old, today’s fishermen have different techniques, methods and means of travel. Motorized boats and larger vessels give today’s fishermen the ability to stay at sea much longer, and provide them with the facilities to keep their catch fresh for a market that is demanding a good supply of fish.
In today’s age the fishermen are using various techniques to enhance their catch and it is not unusual to see those men, who are making a conscious effort to enhance their mode of operation, long lining for various species of fish such as swordfish, marlin, large tunas as such yellow Fin, big eye, bonito and maihi maihi.
In the past two weeks the people of St Kitts were treated via media houses and by public observation to witnessing the catch of Sword Fish and Marlin landed by Todville Daniel and the Spencer brothers and their children. Here is an example how some four generations of the Spencer family have been plying the fishing trade from time past to the present.
The boys’ father entered this noble, though sometimes maligned profession, just as his grandfather “Tarta” Peets did, followed by his son Austin “Dizang” Peets. It is worthy of note that while such young men could have found themselves doing other types of work, theirs was a conscious decision to become fishermen, an occupation of which they are justly proud.
While there has been a lot of fanfare due to the recent catch of Marlin and Sword Fishes recently, Old Road can boast of catching the largest Marlin weighing in at a whopping five hundred and sixty pounds (560 lbs) by Kenrick “Blow Way Smitten.
The sky is now the limit as our fishermen can now target these wonderful, big fishes that can be found in our waters. These fishes, though they were never targeted before by local fishermen have now become their focus. To catch the “big one” is now the goal of the present-day fishermen.
There is a feeling, not of triumph, when a fish the size of those caught recently, is landed, but a sense of awe and wonder that a thing of such size and beauty could be captured through the skill and patience of the fishermen and in spite of the strength and fighting spirit of the fish. It brings sheer joy and happiness to the fishermen.
Much has been made of the recent catch but as one son has declared, he will not celebrate the catching of that whopper Marlin fish until he is successful in bringing in a much bigger one. May his dream like “The Old Man and Sea” come true not only for him but all who wish to dream that dream.
July 24th 2011
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