seines, hooks gears (to catch sharks) and two types of tuna traps. One of these, the
beach seine trawl modality, was practised in Cabo de Gata from 1566, with intermittent activity until at least the year 1659 and which gave rise to a settlement of
fishermen that grew over the years. The first buche’s tuna trap (“almadraba de
buche”) was in Roquetas and leased in 1671 for a 10-year period. At the end of
that century, tuna traps were also found in the town of Balerma (Abad 1995–1996).
Throughout the eighteenth century, the greatest fishing force was still concentrated in the capital city of Malaga, and its large industry was intended for salting fish
and processing anchovy (Burgos 1994a). Fishing for sardines and anchovies in the
northwestern Alboran Sea with “jábegas” was still very important during almost the
whole year. In summer, both species started to be salted, as well as tuna and bonitos
(Sañez-Reguart 1791–1795). There was a huge number of salting places in several
towns on the Malaga coast, where many women and girls worked, exporting
production to different Spanish provinces and to France and Italy. The Catalans
went to the waters of Manilva and Estepona to fish for sardines, and their salting
factories employed around 650 women per campaign (García and Fernández 1993).
The activity was equally intense in several locations in the city of Malaga. In
countless houses in the fishermen’s district, salting anchovy and sardine continued
as well as in 16 large anchovy factories. Independently, the Catalans had their own
salted fish production on the beaches, where they employed another 100 women and
prepared their catches for export, particularly large amounts of dried conger and
pickled sea bream (Burgos 1994a).
In the mid-eighteenth century, the port of Malaga had a large number and variety
of ships. According to the official register of vessels (Villas 1995), in 1753, there
were 112 boats, including 15 large “jábegas” and 20 large longliners (with 7–8 men
each). Throughout the north Alboran Sea, a total of 231 fishing boats of different
types were registered in the period 1758–1765, plus an additional number of vessels
coming annually from the Catalan Sea. The “jábegas” were the most emblematic
ones in the province of Malaga. At the end of the century, they used to fish
continuously during the daylight hours, and even artificial light was used for fishing
at night. These boats caught great quantities of fish, mainly anchovy and sardine
(Sáñez-Reguart 1791–1795). The size of these boats and the necessary manpower
were increasing so that in some cases, they had 33 men, including the crew and the
staff on land. They used an auxiliary boat to take the catches to the selling places
(Sáñez-Reguart 1791–1795). The fishing grounds near the Strait were of prime
interest and a great rivalry area. Fishermen from Malaga and from the villages of
Manilva, Casares and Estepona came to catch mainly tuna. In Spanish Gibraltar,
fishing was the only local industry; in the Bay of Algeciras and the rough Levante
coast, fishing was very intense. These fish were exported inland and to the ports of
Seville and the coast from Malaga to Valencia. At the end of the eighteenth century,
Spanish fishermen from Algeciras preferred the “jábegas,” whereas in British
Gibraltar, the Genoese fishermen preferred the smallest beach trawl nets called
“boliches” (Sañez-Reguart 1791–1795).
In the eastern area (the Nerja-Almeria sector) around 1786, the “jábegas”,
longline and pots were predominant, salting a large quantity of fish which was
782
J. Pérez-Rubín
beach seine trawl modality, was practised in Cabo de Gata from 1566, with intermittent activity until at least the year 1659 and which gave rise to a settlement of
fishermen that grew over the years. The first buche’s tuna trap (“almadraba de
buche”) was in Roquetas and leased in 1671 for a 10-year period. At the end of
that century, tuna traps were also found in the town of Balerma (Abad 1995–1996).
Throughout the eighteenth century, the greatest fishing force was still concentrated in the capital city of Malaga, and its large industry was intended for salting fish
and processing anchovy (Burgos 1994a). Fishing for sardines and anchovies in the
northwestern Alboran Sea with “jábegas” was still very important during almost the
whole year. In summer, both species started to be salted, as well as tuna and bonitos
(Sañez-Reguart 1791–1795). There was a huge number of salting places in several
towns on the Malaga coast, where many women and girls worked, exporting
production to different Spanish provinces and to France and Italy. The Catalans
went to the waters of Manilva and Estepona to fish for sardines, and their salting
factories employed around 650 women per campaign (García and Fernández 1993).
The activity was equally intense in several locations in the city of Malaga. In
countless houses in the fishermen’s district, salting anchovy and sardine continued
as well as in 16 large anchovy factories. Independently, the Catalans had their own
salted fish production on the beaches, where they employed another 100 women and
prepared their catches for export, particularly large amounts of dried conger and
pickled sea bream (Burgos 1994a).
In the mid-eighteenth century, the port of Malaga had a large number and variety
of ships. According to the official register of vessels (Villas 1995), in 1753, there
were 112 boats, including 15 large “jábegas” and 20 large longliners (with 7–8 men
each). Throughout the north Alboran Sea, a total of 231 fishing boats of different
types were registered in the period 1758–1765, plus an additional number of vessels
coming annually from the Catalan Sea. The “jábegas” were the most emblematic
ones in the province of Malaga. At the end of the century, they used to fish
continuously during the daylight hours, and even artificial light was used for fishing
at night. These boats caught great quantities of fish, mainly anchovy and sardine
(Sáñez-Reguart 1791–1795). The size of these boats and the necessary manpower
were increasing so that in some cases, they had 33 men, including the crew and the
staff on land. They used an auxiliary boat to take the catches to the selling places
(Sáñez-Reguart 1791–1795). The fishing grounds near the Strait were of prime
interest and a great rivalry area. Fishermen from Malaga and from the villages of
Manilva, Casares and Estepona came to catch mainly tuna. In Spanish Gibraltar,
fishing was the only local industry; in the Bay of Algeciras and the rough Levante
coast, fishing was very intense. These fish were exported inland and to the ports of
Seville and the coast from Malaga to Valencia. At the end of the eighteenth century,
Spanish fishermen from Algeciras preferred the “jábegas,” whereas in British
Gibraltar, the Genoese fishermen preferred the smallest beach trawl nets called
“boliches” (Sañez-Reguart 1791–1795).
In the eastern area (the Nerja-Almeria sector) around 1786, the “jábegas”,
longline and pots were predominant, salting a large quantity of fish which was
782
J. Pérez-Rubín