Fishing In Penang -Old Style - 1

These few Gems of the old Black and whites capturing the fishing activities along the coastal Penang island aarea were taken for the fishery department by my neighbor 'sfather a man who was in his days was way ahead of his peers. We called him Pa' Haji Latiff or better know to us children as Bap' Lah... or Lah's father. He was a staff at the Penang Fheries Department and this may have been part of his research paer on the fishing industry on the island..

The pictures may have been taken in the early seventies? The coastal landscape of the Island back then was more user friendly, at least for the Locals who harvested the sea as a living. Penang basted of the best unpolluted and fish of large and small sizes and  large varieties were in abundance in the waters close to shoreline. Fishermen did not have to go too far out innto the open waters to find good catch.  

There were plenty for everyone and most fishermen were either Malays or Chinese and most work alongside each other with good understanding and mutual support for each other. The fishing life was just as difficult but rewarding as Penangites back then could boast eating the best freshly caught in the market, I have no idea what has happened since then.

Just as a car owner would care for his or her car, the fisherman maintains his boat  on a daily basis making sure that it is in good shape to take to the sea. This was more so true in the old days when the boats were mostly wooden boats. 

 The fishing villages lies mostly along the oastal areas of Teluk Bahan, Batu Ferringi and Tanjung Bu ngah in the North and areas of Gertak Sanggul, Batu Maung, and Balik Pulau. It was a blessing for those who grew up during this time as the rustic lanscape with huts and palm trees soaking in the sun was a sight to to remember.