The Basques are world-class fishermen whose dominance in the market was eroded by a number of factors.
1. Better natural harbors in other cities, particularly Pasajes, SP.
2. Factory fishing by other countries, such as Norway, Japan and England which exceeded the Basque productivity in smaller vessels
3. Less strenuous and more profitable work in other industries.
History states that San Sebastian and the Basques had viable international sea trading as early as the 1st Century AD. They developed natural trading partners over the years, and spice trade with Venezuela, esp. cocoa, for artisan products from the Basque region allowed a permanent Basque trading base to be developed in Venezuela.
The Basques were also the first successful commercial whalers and had camps established as faraway as Newfoundland, Can. Whaling was important to the Basques and others for its source of lighting oil, and other components of very important and popular products. Whaling was so important that commercial whalers nearly extinguished many species. Today the industry is highly regulated.
Basques were later prevented from whaling by the Treaty of Utrecht and their bases closed. However, the factory whalers which replaced them came to the Basques to acquire skill and equipment important to their success. More to come on this after I look up the Treaty of Utrecht on Wikipedia.
This photo shows parts of the Donostia- San Sebastian Harbor. The time of year is late October, so most of the individual water taxis and pleasure boats are at anchor. This must be a very busy place during the summer season.
Donostia Harbor
