A 30f. stamp from the Federal Republic of Cameroon shows quite clearly a modern fishing vessel bearing the registration number D.161, apparently of Douala. I have been informed that the vessel is the Villalba, built in 1963 by Astilleros Construcciones, S.A., for Pescanova, and registered at Vigo.
Her gross tonnage is 1,601 tons, net 787 tons. Length is 246 ft 4 in., beam 39 ft. 4 in., depth 23 ft. 4 in. and draft 15 ft. 9 in. Her engine is a KiocknerHumboldt.Deutz, 6-cylinder, of 1,500 b.h.p. giving a nominal speed at 12 knots.
A 150f stamp of the same issue shows crevettiers (shrimp catchers) of the port of Douala. They bear the numbers "D 137", "D 142", "D 139" and "D 138".
The 40f. stamp of this series shows an unusual form of canoe fishing. The natives are fishing in a group, probably of six, with wide-spreading dip nets, after small fish, such as whitefish. The nets have a central pole for raising them from the water. As can be seen on the stamp, the nets are of considerable length, having a width of 10 ft. or more and probably about a depth of 8 ft. under water. The canoes are very small and require great skill in manipulating the net, without the canoe, just wide enough for the man to sit in, tippling over. To use a paddle with only one hand and arm, whilst holding the large net handle on the shoulder of the other arm requires considerable strength as well as great skill in the handling of the small canoe. SG606