Note 15 — II. Industries at the Time of Discovery and Conquest

As, next to rice, fish formed an important part of the diet of the Filipinos, we find them engaged in the fishing industry at the time of discovery and conquest. Magellan and his party saw many fishing boats near the coasts of the islands passed by them. “All the shores of this bay (Manila) are well provided with abundant fisheries, of all kinds.”15 The other islands were described to have many large fisheries also.16 The inland waters, too, furnished the inhabitants with abundant fish supply.