Chinese Fishing Net

 

                                                             Chinese fishing net

            Once I was touring Kerala and loitering on the beaches of Fort Kochi which is famous for Vasco Da Gama sojourn, he was a Portuguese explorer and for the first time he explore India by sea route. And at the same time it is the birth place of eminent Malayalam vocalist Yashu Das. So I noticed the setting of the sun and the whole sky turned into a colorful canvas, and created a great breathtaking view, as I had my camera with short zoom attached I made lot of frames of the silhouetted Chinese fishing net which came out well and once it adored a calendar. As the story goes that this net was introduced by a Chinese explorer Zheng He, between 1350 and 1450 AD, it is established on the shore of Fort Kochi in a queue way and this is the most photographed subject during sun rise or sun set there.

            This fishing net is now big bait for the tourists due to the huge cantilevered Chinese fishing net that drop towards waters it is suspended in air like a huge hammock and working as hallmark for Fort Kochi on the tourists map. To reach there to get the best view one has to head towards  the Vasco da Gama square the narrow walk way that runs along Fort Kochi beach. These nets are made of bamboo, teak wood and work on the principal of balance, each structure is about 10 meters high and 20 meters wide is fixed on the beach. Just to attract fish often lights are attached to the fishing net to attract fish.

            Each fishing net needs four persons to operate and it is made in such a way that the weight of a man walking on the main plank is enough to cause the equipment to pull down into the sea. Generally the fishing is done in the morning or early evening. Watching its operation is spell bounding event for the first timer tourists.

            It is called Cheena Vala in India or Tangkul in Indonesia are type of stationary lift in India and Indonesia, the more formal name for such nets is called “Shore operated lift nets”.

Text and Photo by- Ashok Karan,

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