Smaller summer bonus of suku fish this year

Smaller summer bonus of suku fish this year

 

On July 27, which is July 1 in the lunar calendar, on Ojima Island, Tamagusuku, Nanjo, fisherman brought in their annual bonus catch of young rabbitfish, called suku in the Kingdom of Ryukyu language.

 

They returned from the sea in the early morning, carrying baskets filled with tiny silver fishes.

 

The bonus catch came later than usual this year, and was not as big.

 

The islanders of Ojima call the catch of young rabbitfish a “Summer bonus from the sea,” because they fish for suku for a few days before or after June 1 and July 1 in the lunar calendar.

 

Before and after June 1 this year, they went for fishing.

 

However, they did not catch the fish.

 

As of 9:30 a.m. on July 2, they caught about 44 kilograms of suku.

 

The fishermen said that they had caught more suku last year than this year.

 

However, they looked relieved to have caught some suku despite it being a small catch.

 

Women measured suku fishes and sold them at the market.

 

Sayuri Urasaki, who works at a fish store in the market said, “It is better than nothing. But fishermen need to catch more than 300 kilograms of suku to earn bonus.”

 

(English translation by T&CT, Hitomi Shinzato)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 August 2014 The Roman)