[DAC] Fishermen of Alexandria

[Lucilda Cooper]

 From the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria on the  
coast of Egypt, two hours from Cairo by train, is awash in reflected  
color and light.

In this ancient city, lovers and families linger or stroll along the  
arc of the Corniche that encloses the Bay, enjoying snacks like ice  
creams and roasted peanuts in a vacation state of mind, escaping  
Cairo's pollution and big city pulsation of life on the go.

However, the local fishermen still have to make a living, and ply  
their trade in a most unusual manner, setting their net in the huge  
arc  of the bay, and then haul in their catch from the Corniche,  
piling the rope into neat coils on the sidewalk. Trying to maneuver  
around the fishermen and their ropes, I was curious about their  
catch, as they put so much effort into hauling the net in, taking  
turns to clip their belt unto the rope and hauling.

With no particular destination in mind, watching this fishing haul  
was as good as any other activity. Besides, I was curious about the  
catch. So I settled into the shadow of a palm tree on the sidewalk  
and began to photograph and videotape this to me, unusual activity.

Soon another foreigner (I assume) pass by and then did a u-turn and  
joined me in photographing this novel way of hauling in the catch.  
Eventually a few curious onlookers then swelled into a sizable crowd,  
as we perched on the seawall waiting for the haul.



As the nets moved closer to shore, the men clambered down to the  
beach and continued hauling. Now there were six, three on each side  
hauling both sides of the net simultaneously.

As the minutes wore on and the labor became more intense, visions of  
the sea's bounty danced in my head. Would theere be lobstrs, crabs,  
shrimps, a variety of fish, what kinds?




We all waited eagerly for the completion of the haul to see the catch  
of the day. Certainly this beautiful and clear water is bound to  
yield some amazing seafood.



Two men get into the water keeping the net untangled and shooing the  
catch in towards the center. I have a light coat, similarly  everyone  
is warmly attired....I wonder if they aren't cold, these two elderly  
gentlemen working in the water. They didn't seem to be shivering. I  
have noticed that people seem to shrug off discomfort when engaged in  
the work that makes their wages possible.


While the men on shore continued to haul and pile the nets, not just  
ropes now, into piles on the beach.



It seemed a long haul, but may have been just about an hour later,  
the end of the net is finally coming up to the beach.
Where is the catch? There is only a small bulge, the merest fraction  
of the vast net cast on the water.

What of the catch? Where is the treasures of Neptune that required  
six men to haul in and two additional men to stand more than waist  
deep in the cold water for so long?



Less than a pail full of tiny sardines!

This was quickly sold off and only a few fish almost palm sized  
remain, which I assume the fishermen were saving for sale elsewhere.
Ken, my husband tells me that less than fifty Egyptian pounds changed  
hands, from his vantage point. Less than ten American dollars for so  
much effort, the time and energy of eight men, and their equipment.



The tiny sardines resulting from the mighty haul from the harbor in  
Alexandria.

feeling let down, I consoled myself with the fact that at least the  
fishermen were able to eat for another day, and managed to feed other  
families also with their morning's labor. One of the more persistent  
horse and buggy drivers who had been trying to get us to go for a  
ride tells us that it varies. Sometimes there were some bigger fish  
in the catch.

I guess it depends on what is in the harbor on any particular day and  
where they cast their nets.

Love

Lucilda



Visit my website: www.Lucilda.com



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