FISHING HARBOUR IN THE PAST MACAO

[aukepalmhof]

In May 2012 Macao has issues four stamps and a souvenir sheet, the stamps are designed after paintings made by the Macao painter Mr. Chio Sio Chi.

Macao was a fishing harbour in the past. As it is located at the side of South China Sea with rich fishery resources and convenient sea traffic conditions, fishery becomes one of the most ancient and traditional industries of Macao.
Most fishing harbours in Macao are located in the Inner Harbour, with Island of Wanzai at the other side across the sea. With tranquil water and broad harbour surface, it is suitable for all kinds of ships to anchor here. Therefore, it has long been an ideal typhoon shelter to fishermen.

Due to the geographical location of Macao and its unique sea navigation conditions, foreign merchant ships were engaged in all kinds of trading activities in this region as early as hundreds of years ago. Sea transportation and fishery had been the pillar industries of Macao in the past. It is not hard to imagine the picture of a busy harbour with shuttling ships, glistening waves and numerous sails in the inner harbour and heavy traffic on the coast.

Nowadays, many people who are familiar with the history of Macao still take delight in talking about the style and features of the fishing harbours of Macao in the past. From Barra to Ilha Verde, the docks along the route were running day and night. Benefited from the development of sea transportation and fishery, all kinds of fish, shrimp, crab and dried fish stores were widely distributed along the coast. At each festival, hundreds of fishing boats gathered in the harbour, sampans and small boats travelled around, masts stood in great numbers, and banners and flags were everywhere. The busy and prosperous scene remains in the memory of many people till now.

Now Macao has developed into an international metropolis with well-developed tourism, service and commerce industries. The fishery in the Inner Harbour is much reduced and all other industries relying on sea transportation and fishery are also declining. Fishery is an ancient industry in Macao and has its special historic significance and feature. Now this ancient industry is declining and can it recover in the future? Fortunately, many scenes of the past are maintained around the Inner Harbour especially that, at important traditional festivals, many fishing boats will again gather in the Inner Harbour.
Though the scene is never as prosperous as before, it still makes us associate the busy fishing harbour in the past.

The stamp issues “Fishing Harbour in the Past” selects oil paintings describing the traditional activities in the Inner Harbour as the theme and reminds us the memory of the past.

Macao 2012 1.50/4.00 ptcs sg?, scott? 10.00 ptcs MSsg?, scott?

Macao Post.