There were 10 - 12 000 people who worked as professional fishermen in Latvia in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. For a part of them this trade was their main source of income, while others used it to earn some extra income. Besides them, there were thousands of coastal inhabitants who went fishing to catch some valuable addition to their family meals.
A fisherman of Vidzeme… The writer and poet Vilis Veldre, touring fisherman villages of Latvia in 1938, said: “An old fisherman of Vidzeme resembles an upright craftsman. He is rigid as a dried apple. All of his life has been spent in hard work, but on the brink of life, as long as one has led a thrifty life at his prime years, he is no beggar.”
Not becoming a beggar is also challenging today. The endless sea plays a game of survival with the fishermen of Vidzeme – their endurance is tested by winds, by fog and changing governments. But the fishermen of Vidzeme, who recognize each other if not by name, then by face, keep up with the challenge of sea and life. Fishermen of the Vidzeme coast cannot hide from the whims of Mother Sea in any of the large ports – the Vidzeme coast has none of those…
The coast, which is sandy in some parts and rocky in others, lures closer as well as pushes away in stormy and foggy days, just like an evil stepmother. Quite a few fishermen have gotten lost in the waters of the Vidzeme coast, while disembarking in search of the hospitality of the neighbouring parish. To be frank, today, when the fog is easily defeated by fancy equipment, it’s more likely to get lost among the jungle of paperwork, bureaucracy and restrictions.
With no loud speeches or slogans, the fishermen are aware that only they can maintain the coastal fishing tradition north of Rīga, competing with our neighbours - Estonians. Log driving and piloting, however, has already gone extinct…
A true man of the Vidzeme coast is sincere and calm, but proud at the same time. The fishermen of Vidzeme coast recognize the value of their tradition and trade, but the burden is growing heavier and heavier, just as is pulling a herring net alone. These fine men accept the destiny of a sea dog and the Last Mohicans with the characteristic heavy irony that these men have. As long as the boats move ahead and even a single fishing net or trap remains in the net shed, the men will take to the sea every morning, full of hope, reminding the coastal villagers and visitors one single important thing - we are the people of the sea, the sea loves us and we love it back.
Returning back to the first sentence of this story - there were 10 000-12 000 people who worked as professional fishermen in Latvia in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century - we should add that in 2019 the number of professional fishermen in Latvia was….102(!)...hence 100 times less. Nonetheless, we have no right to wither and vanish. We believe that this story will serve as a small building block in the conservation and continuation of this longstanding craft. In spite of varied winds, and while wearing an ironic smile which is so characteristic to our fishermen...
