GUAMPEDIA Pulan Umatalaf
Volume VI Issue III
Måtso 22-Abrit 21, 2023 March 22- April 21, 2023
Know Our Islands, Know Our History
S: Signs spinus CH: Mañåhak ha’tang (s); Sesyon C: Scribbled rabbitfish
Click to Know Guampedia.com S: Mulloidichthys flavolineatus CH: Satmonetiyu (m); Satmoneti (lg) S: Lutjanus bohar C: Yellowstripe goatfish CH: Tagåfi C: Red snapper
S: Signs argenteus CH: Mañåhak lesso’ (s); Hiteng kåhlao C: Fortail rabbitfish
U’meguihan
S: Parupeneus barberinus CH: Satmonetiyu (m); Satmoneti pintu C: Dash-and-dot goatfish
Fishing was so important in ancient CHamoru/Chamorro society that even the calendar was influenced by fishing seasons. With the sinahi (crescent moon) of Umatalaf shining and watching over us like our ancestors over 150 generations, gitafe, commonly known as snapper, is now in season. Additionally, February to April were good months for fishing for sesyon (rabbitfish), ti’ao (baby goatfish) and satmoneti (goatfish). Early historical accounts of the ancient CHamorus/Chamorros describe the natives as very skilled fishermen. Fish and other foods from the sea not only provided a source of sustenance for the first people, they were also important culturally, providing natural materials for tools and commodities for trade or gifts. Fray Juan Pobre Zamora, a Spanish friar who jumped ship and lived among the Taotao Luta (people of Rota) in 1602, wrote: “As far as their fishing skills and devices are concerned, it would take a very long story to tell about them; consequently, I will only say that they use the same kinds of nets and fishing tricks that our people use, and many more. When it comes to fishing from their funeas [boats], no better seamen or divers have ever been known to exist.” S: Scorpaenidae CH: Ñufo’ The analysis of fish bones from sites on Guam revealed that ancient C: Stonefish CHamorus/Chamorros caught all of the ordinary reef fishes and even S: Sphyraena spp. CH: Ålu some extraordinary reef fishes. They also caught potentially C: Barracudas dangerous fishes, including sharks and rays, moray eels, scorpionfish and barracuda. S: Muraenidae CH: Håkmang C: Eels
S: Dasyatidae CH: Afula C: Stingrays
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