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Drying Racks
Coastal communities built extensive drying infrastructure—massive wooden racks that could hold thousands of fish simultaneously. These structures were community investments, maintained collectively, essential to village survival.
The racks were carefully positioned—high enough that fish hung above most ground moisture and animal access, oriented to catch prevailing winds, located where rain would not constantly saturate fish, accessible enough that workers could hang and remove fish efficiently.
Maintenance was ongoing—storm damage repaired, rotted wood replaced, structures inspected and reinforced before each fishing season. The racks represented accumulated knowledge about optimal drying conditions, generations of refinement that improved efficiency and results.
Storage Facilities
Dried fish required proper storage—protection from moisture, from rodents and insects, from theft. Communities built dedicated storehouses—elevated structures with good ventilation, secured against pests and unauthorized access.
The dried fish were stacked carefully—sorted by quality and drying date, organized so oldest stocks were used first, monitored for signs of degradation or pest damage. This inventory management was crucial—losing preserved fish to storage failure meant potential starvation.
Individual families maintained smaller storage—portions of community catch allocated based on contribution to fishing and processing labor. The family storehouse was managed by household’s most experienced member, usually a woman who understood exactly how much food existed and how it must be rationed to last until next harvest.
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