Neringa the Curonian Spit is a unique monument, light multisided strip of a land, uniqueness of which is comprised of relief created by the sea and wind, the highest spit in the whole Northern Europe, Lagoon marl prints, remains of former Lagoon‘s forest and soil brought by the wind and constant interesting eolic processes.
A considerable contribution for formation of the existent uniqueness was made by human, who after unmerciful extermination of the spit‘s forests personally started the works of forests‘ regeneration. The process of regeneration was long and hard; therefore, current natural and introduced vegetation, rare plants that are typical for this region only, their communities, and their growth locations request special care. Such care is also necessitated by tracks left by humans in this region, since “the most important task is to preserve and propagate the region‘s culture together with its creators – local residents – and with the natural environment, where the culture had blossomed and left its tracks.“
The natives of the spit, who had created an original ethnic community of fishermen, disappeared during the War and post-War period. Only the spit, forests, and empty fishermen‘s settlements remained. During the post-War period, the territory was populated by immigrants from the Great Lithuania and other republics, which were a part of the contemporary Soviet Union.
Fishering And Fish Smoking. Ancient inhabitants of the Spit were all fishermen without exceptions. Fishing business had penetrated not only the whole of their household life, but spiritual culture as well. Every household had one or several boats, by which all tours were done. Chidren sailed by boats to schools, adults travelled by them to the church. Frequently, the fishermen started out for fishing for 3 – 5 days. There was always enough of work, since various species of fish “were comming” at different times.
The ancient Curonians were fishing in the boats called kurenas. They were up to 10 meters in lenth and 3 meters in width.
There was a separate smokehouse’s building in the fishermen’s farmsteads, which was named the beech-house. The work of women was to process and hook the fish for smoking.
The diet of the Curonian Spit’s fishermen was rather simple. The main food was fish. It was consumed as meat, also instead of bread and vegetables. Fish was also used as feed for animals. Dried and salted fish was the main food reserve for the winter. Smoked fish was intended for the holy table as well. The most tasty fish was and still is, when for fish smoking pines cones are used.
Even today, walking the streest of Neringa’s settlements, your nose gets pleasantly “tickled” by the smells of smoked fish. You can taste smoked eel, bream, perch and even smelt almost in every cafe or restaurant or just sitting next to the table of smoked fish mongers.
Nowadays, the Curonian Lagoon is perfectly suitable for not only professional, but amateur fishing as well. Experienced fishermen independently start out for fishing not only during summer, but winter too, when the season of ice-fishing begins and smelts are biting in great quanitities.
The beginners prefer organized fishing when an experienced ship captain can join.
For more information please contact:
JSC SUPERTURAS
Donelaicio 60, Kaunas, Lithuania
info@superturas.lt.:
Ph+370 37 404142
