This story of my dad’s brother, Jose Anderson Punzalan (b.1925 - d.2001), was extracted from the book “Pasehu yan i Mansainen Kostumbren Chamorro Siha: A Journey with the Masters of Chamorro Tradition.” It is the first story I ever came across that included a mention of my great grandfather Leon Quitugua Anderson (b.1869 - d.?). Many people learned our family tradition of making fishing nets. The timing of the article is incredible. Just minutes after I completed working on this I received notice that Joey Leon Punzalan Quenga, one of Uncle Joe's grandson, had passed away. I am proud to share this reprinted story of Uncle Joe and also in memory of his grandson Joey, who also carries the namesake of my great grandfather Leon.
The love of the outdoors, fishing, hunting and farming has always played a major role in the life of Jose Anderson Punzalan. Inquisitive and curious, ten-year old Jose, would spend hours watching his grandfather Leon Quitugua Anderson, make and repair fishing talåya (fishing throw nets). A talåyeru (fisherman) by trade, Tun Leon passed his knowledge on to Jose and he recalls that Tun Leon was known for his skill as a net maker and would sell 1/4" net for about $33.00. Jose fondly remembers fishing with his grandfather who taught his grandson how to repair and make nets, as well as, how to fish. Jose also learned to weave the guagua' (fish basket) for transporting of fish caught from the shore to home.
The talåya Jose made utilized nylon and cotton threads with the use of tools made from bamboo and aluminum needles, which he crafted himself. He also made his own plomu (lead sinkers) used to weigh down the nets he made. In addition to the traditional talåya, Jose also made different traps to catch rats, cats and dogs.
Also known as, "Panzy," Jose was a hardworking family man who enjoyed fishing, hunting and farming, common forms of supplementing a family's income at the time. So he became skilled at hunting and fishing. Having a large family, that included his wife, Sylvia and nine children, Jose saw to it that his family was well cared for. There was always an abundance of fish, fresh meat, vegetables and produce at the Punzalan home. Of his children, the two oldest boys, Frank and Edward learned how to repair nets from their father and visitors often found Jose meticulously making nets at his home as he received many requests to repair and make nets. Jose was such a skilled net maker, that, people would ask him to repair their nets or make nets for them.
Net making is a skill of precision. Panzy made various sizes of nets for the different fishes and sizes, with the distance between te knots ranging anywhere from 1/4" to 6". The net's circumference also varied between 20'-40'. 1/4" nets would be used to catch måñåhåk (juvenile rabbit fish) or i'e' (juvenile skipjack). Larger nets with knots ranging up to 6" cast from the edge of the reef were used to catch reef fishes such as la'ggua (parrot fish), tåtåga (unicorn fish), and guili (rudder fish). Jose's favorite fishing spots were at the beaches in Tamuning, Tumon, and as far north as Tarague Beach.
Jose made such an impression on a boy named Simon Camacho, Jr., that, twelve year-old Simon would ask his father to drop them off at the Punzalan residence just to watch him make the nets. Jose taught Simon, who later became his godson, how to repair and make talåya. In keeping in mind with this tradition, Simon has passed along the knowledge he obtained by training others to make talåya under the KÅHA Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Throughout the years, Jose conducted demonstrations at various schools and at Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) on how to make a fishnet and the proper way to cast the net. Due to his failing health, he no longer fishes or makes talåya, however, numerous local fishermen still use nets made by Jose and one of his sons often uses nets made by his father to fish in Alaska where he resides.
Source:
Pasehu yan i Mansainen Kostumbren Chamorro Siha (A Journey with the Masters of Chamorro Tradition). 2000. Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency.
