The majority of the aech are located close to the shoreline and
are in the shape of an arrow. They comprise of a shaft of various
lengths up to 200 metres lying perpendicular to the shoreline and
a fish catchment area—the ‘arrow head’. As fish are moving with
the current when the tide is falling, they are redirected by the
shaft through entrances into the arrow head that could contain up
to four smaller compartments that trap the fish, generally at the
end of one arm of the arrow head. The different size compartments
are for the segregation of different size fish. Small nets (k’ef)
and weir baskets (yanup) may be used to collect the fish from the
aech.
Two, three or more aech can form a continuous line from the
shoreline out to deeper water that will trap fish feeding in this
area. Sometimes a break in the shaft will be made when fish are
not required. Also at these times, the arrow head area will also
be opened up so fish can come-and-go and made to ‘feel at home’.
Volcanic rocks (basalt) are mainly used although limestone rocks
are also used, particularly further offshore and where the aech is
quite different in shape.
Of the 45 aech surveyed, at least 12 different styles and shapes
were found. This included aech with:
- compartments in both arms of
the arrow head
- arrow head arms of different
lengths
- no shaft but comprising one or
two extensions off the two ends of the arrow head
- a shaft and one extension
- compartments at the back of
the aech (the tip of the arrow head) including some with
compartments within the arrow head, some without
- a hut over a compartment or
more generally near the back of the aech (above),
- arrow shaped ponds, with no
shaft and no apparent entrances
Different construction techniques
were also found in the aech. The majority of the aech use various
shaped basalt rocks, quite often incorporating very large
immovable rocks and built up to various heights (up to c. 1.2
metres) but depending on its location and the height of the tide.
Different parts of one aech will also be at different heights,
generally the back of the aech is the first area exposed as the
tide falls.
Some of the aech in Rumung are much higher (c. 2-3 metres) as they
are located in deeper water. They also incorporate horizontally
laid rectangular basalt rocks that form a wide base for the
smaller upper rocks that are laid in a vertical manner. This was
said to be related to the rougher sea conditions in this area, in
addition to making the fish ‘feel at home’—giving them a chance to
escape through the vertical rocks at any time—until the tide
drops, when they would then be trapped.
The different shape and construction methods used appear to be a
reflection of their different locations around Yap, the nature of
the seabed (e.g. sea grass beds, deeper water), the strength and
direction of the currents and the waves, and the types of fish
found in the various regions of Yap.
The aech is a unique example of how a society can
exploit as well as live in harmony with its natural resources. The
aech was designed and built to suit the local environment, to take
advantage of the way certain fish move along the shoreline as well
as further offshore, in addition to the strength and direction of
currents, wind and the location of channels. They were also not
used on many occasions so fish could come-and-go from within the
aech and to ‘feel at home’. The aech also provides an insight into
Yap’s complex social ranking where the aech, while located in an
owner’s ‘sea-plot’, could be owned by another person or estate,
and it could be used by a third person or estate. Many of the
coastal villages are high caste villages, some lower cast
villagers may from time to time be given access to sea-plots,
which may include an aech, and it may not. This would depend on
whether fish are plentiful or not, and at times of famine or
during natural disasters for example, which according to
Hunter-Anderson (1983: 3-4) contributed to the development of
Yap’s social ranking.
The aech is a symbol of Yapese originality, and their unique
cultural, social and natural relationships. This survey, while it
included the mapping of many aech locations and more detailed
mapping of some, also included the collection of some oral
histories and how the aech were used so the whole aech story could
be told. Given the depth of the cultural and natural associations
and complexities Yapese have with the aech, this project has only
scratched the surface. Much more work can and will be done.
