Fisherman picking fish from a net, at Vitshumbi, Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"A great deal of fishing is at the subsistence level or on a small commercial level. There were some commercial fishing operations by European-owned companies on the great lakes, but these virtually disappeared after Zairanization (between 1973 and 1975). [F. Scott Bobb, 1999: Historical Dictionary of Democratic Republic of Congo, The Scarecrow Press]. During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited Vitshumbi, a fishing harbour on the south shore of Lake Edward (Lake Rutanzige), which is shallow, and has an impoverished fish fauna. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignement for National Geographic Film and traveled to Africa from January 19, 1972 to mid April 1972.