HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF FISHING IN LINDI
Fishing is one of the oldest activities in Estonian coastal areas, teaching residents how to communicate with and respect the value of the sea. Located on the shores of the fish-rich Pärnu Bay, the men here have been professional fishermen for centuries.
The Evolution of the Profession
A fisherman is defined as someone whose primary income is derived from catching fish—it is one of the world’s oldest professions.
- Historical Integration: For centuries in Estonia, fishing was combined with agricultural production.
- Professionalization: A permanent class of professional coastal fishermen emerged in the 19th century as market ties expanded.
- Historical Statistics:
- 1922: Estonia had 7,019 sea fishermen and 8,606 inland fishermen (including both primary and secondary occupations).
- 1987: Total fishermen numbered approximately 8,500; over 7,500 worked on ships, while the rest engaged in near-shore boat fishing or inland waters.
Fishing Grounds and the Kolkhoz Era
During the Soviet collective farm (kolkhoz) system, fishing areas were strictly divided among artels.
- Assigned Areas: “Audrurand” fishermen were assigned Võiste beach, the sea around Sorgu island, and their local home waters.
- Long-distance Trips: They also traveled to the coast of Saaremaa for distant fishing.
- Inventory (1949): The artel began with 17 motorboats, 3 rowboats, 491 large fish nets, 53 large fish traps, 14 herring traps, and 110 eel traps.
- Conservation Concerns: As early as the 1950s, poaching in Pärnu Bay was a serious concern, leading to the depletion of valuable species like pikeperch (zander).
Crafting the Gear
In earlier times, fishing gear was expensive and required significant manual labor.
| Feature | Traditional Gear (Linen) | Modern Era (Capron/Nylon) |
| Material | Locally grown linen or imports from Holland/Germany | Synthetic fibers (Kapron) |
| Production | Knitted at home during winter by the whole family | Often factory-made |
| Durability | Less durable; required frequent replacement | High durability |
| Cost | Factory linen was very expensive (6 krones/kg) | Generally more cost-effective over time |
Note on Net Geometry: An ideal net mesh was said to “stand like a birch leaf”—meaning the holes were diamond-shaped to hold fish more effectively.
A Childhood by the Sea
For the children of coastal villages, work began early, and their first tasks were almost always related to the sea.
- Ages 6–8: Children were taught to mend nets so their fingers would get used to handling fine threads; they were sometimes paid 1 cent per mended mesh to stimulate work.
- Daily Tasks: After a catch, children helped with gutting herring, cleaning fish, and clearing seaweed (sea grass) from the nets.
- Stepping Stones: While young children fished near the shore, only boys aged 14–15 were allowed to go out for the actual “setting” of nets and lines.
- Life Lessons: Hard work was a necessity; children saw that “daily bread did not come to the table easily”.
The 2005 January Storm
The storm of January 2005 was a devastating event for the Lindi fishing community.
- Infrastructure Damage: The storm destroyed the quay, the jetty, and the fish reception point.
- Equipment Loss: 11 electric motors were submerged, rendering the harbor unusable for the upcoming fishing season.
- Impact: This disaster left many families without their primary source of income.
Folk Wisdom and Proverbs
The culture of the fishing community is deeply reflected in their proverbs regarding work and diligence:
- “Man was created to work and a bird to fly”.
- “Work does not break bones”.
- “Work makes a person beautiful”.
- “Speak less, do more”.
- “Do work with your hands, not with gloves”.