It sure is nice to have morning delivery of freshly caught fish. Local fishermen work at night and early morning, to catch food for their families. If they have a good catch, in excess of the needs of their family, they sell it to us. They are most often deep water fish, small (10-12") mackerel of several varieties. Occasionally, they catch a large jack, or snapper. If they fish on the reef, they get small grouper, rabbit fish, goat fish, or other local varieties. Fishing at night with lanterns often produces catch of squid. All are caught on hook and line. Those with a motorized banca troll for king mackerel or barracuda. (We limit our consumption of those species due to concerns over mercury contamination.)

So 3-4 days a week we have fresh fish brought to us, often still alive; we haven't been to the fish market in months.

We grow much of our other foods. Okra, eggplant, green onions, hard squash, summer squash, bitter melon, herbs, papaya, mango, and coconut. We raise our own chickens, and occasionally, some pigs.

The other items that we cannot produce are purchased in town, 30 miles distant. (Due to road and traffic conditions, 1 Philippine mile is equivalent to about two or three US miles.)

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