The colony had 1077 - 129 = <<1077-129=948>>948 penguins in it at the beginning of this year.
At the beginning of the second year, the colony had 948 / 3 = <<948/3=316>>316 penguins in it.
At the beginning of the first year, it had 316 / 2 = <<316/2=158>>158 penguins in it.
Thus, at the beginning of the first year, the penguin colony was catching 158 * 1 1/2 = 237 fish per day.
#### 237