Fishing Harbour in the Past

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 for 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 in-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 stores, shrimp stores, crab stores 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 I larbour 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 il recover in (he future? Forwnately, 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 harbor in the past.

The stamp issue Fishing Harbour in the Past’s selects oil paintings describing the traditional activities in the Inner I larbour as the theme and reminds us the memory of the past.

The Maritime Administration
Translation: C&C — Translation Centre, Ltd.

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: stamps of 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.00 Patacas

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: 10.00 Patacas

Desenho/Design: Chio Sio Chi (Adapt. Macao Post)

Data emissão/Issue date: 18.05.2012

Impressor/Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 13 x 13¼