In the fishing industry, taking what belonged to others was common.
There was an old saying in China that fame portended trouble for men just as fattening did for pigs. The black gold abalone fishermen guarded against each other as if they were guarding against thieves.
Every day, the fishermen paid attention to the other fishermen's harvest. If one of them had many harvests continuously, they would realize that the other party had found an abalone group, and then they would keep an eye on them and follow them.
As a result, many black gold abalone fishermen used small boats because they were hidden from view and difficult to detect.
As for safety, they were familiar with water, and the waters where they caught the abalone were often very close to shore. Using a small boat could help ensure their safety.
