FREIGHT DELIVERY VIA BARCO
CAPTAIN PESCADITO AND “THE 38”
on Little Corn Island, Nicaragua, January 28, 2005
THE 38
Pretty much every Saturday, our comrades at the Dive Shop keep their eyes peeled for the
arrival of The 38.
With his cargo boat at anchor, Captain Pescadito comes ashore to collect fees for the freight he has brought. We have not seen this kind of smile on this man’s face since snapping this photo because of a tragedy that occurred soon after in which robbers broke into his house and killed his wife.
We often wonder how it is this Barco and others like it stay afloat and therefore, were not surprised to hear of one going down in a big storm, drowning the cook.
The 38 is not a large boat by any stretch of the imagination, yet it dwarfs our dive boat and the other pangas which come to greet it.
Amazingly, everybody takes turns tying up alongside and receiving their freight order.
Here is a load of siding. It is fascinating to watch the whole working force of the island turn out to unload and then carry their cargo down the sidewalk to their bodegas. Even young children show up with small wheelbarrows and much of it is carried on shoulders and backs.
Everything from wine to washing machines is passed over the side and handed over to the
crews in the smaller boats. My back hurt for two days after handling 12 boxes and one 50 pound bag of dog food.