The city of Kochi, formerly Cochin, is located on the west coast of India, 250 km from the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. On both sides of the bay, the coast is lined with unusual Chinese fishing nets. How did you get there?
The Chinese have lived in the area since the 8th century AD. It is believed that Chinese traders at the court of Kublai Khan brought these nets to Cochin before 1400. Many fish can be caught near the coast in the surrounding waters. Cochin. Hence, these large man-powered fishing machines served for more than a century until the Arabs drove the Chinese out.
When the Chinese left, the nets were removed. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese replaced the Arabs. Obviously it was the Portuguese who reintroduced such networks in Cochin and brought them from the Portuguese colonial island of Macau in southeast China.
Although the concept has been around for centuries, Chinese networks still work well without any difference from the original design or operation. And they continue to provide livelihoods for many fishermen and food for many people. In fact, lifting a net can feed an entire village. The hammocks are not only effective but also beautiful, especially when they stand out elegantly against the golden morning or night sky.
How do you work?
The gigantic Chinese nets use support and counterweights to balance the net load and catch. When not in use, the net and its support structure hang over the water. Fishing starts early in the morning and lasts four to five hours. The nets are carefully placed in the water. To do this, the fishermen adjust the weights that are attached to the opposite end of the balancing system, or the leader of the fishing team walks on the central beam of the net. The net is left underwater for 5 to 20 minutes before carefully lifting it up to catch the fish swimming near the shore. With years of experience, the boss knows exactly when to open the network.
At the command of the commandant's signal, the rest of the crew of five or six men raise the net by pulling on the ropes to which the counterweight blocks are attached. When the net rises, the corners of the net rise first. The net thus has the shape of an aquarium in which the fish are located. What a thrill for fishermen! After a good catch, they pat each other on the back to show their luck. The fish is then auctioned off to traders, housewives and the occasional tourist.
The Chinese, Arabs and Portuguese have come and gone. But Chinese nets continue to rise and fall along the Kochi Streams, as they did more than 600 years ago.
It's a very informative article.