There are various kinds of fishing contraptions prepared out
of cane and bamboo in different parts of the state. A brief description of some
of the fishing implements widely used like polo, Jakai, Khalai, Dori, Chepa,
Paran, Jhuti, Hogra, etc. is given below:
Polo- It resembles the shape of a dome with short stem of
about 6" diameter open at the top. The diameter at the bottom varies from
2 ft-3½ ft. and even upto 4 ft. and the height varies from 2 ft. to 3 ft. It is
prepared out of small bamboo strips fastened with fine and flexible cane slips.
Polo is used for fishing in shallow water. The man who uses it hold it by the
side of the stem, presses its rim on the mud, then pulls it back and lifts
above or up to the level of water and again presses it as before while moving
on through water. Whenever any fish is caught, he puts his hand inside through
the stem to catch hold of the fish; julki is a small polo prepared in the same
fashion.
Jakai- The ‘jakai’ is a species of wicker work shovel that
is either dragged along the bottom or placed on the water bed to catch the
small fishes which take refuge in it when the weed is trampled. It is prepared
with bamboo slips, which are locally known as ‘dai’. ‘Jati’ bamboo is specially
used for making this particular implement.
Khalai - The ‘khalai’ is also prepared with bamboo strips.
The strips required for the weft are very long, while those for the warp are
short. The ‘khalai’ is woven in the shape of an earthen ‘kalasi’ or pitcher.
This is used for temporary keeping of fishes during hand-net fishing.
Chepa- The Chepa is made of some prepared bamboo rods
according to required size. These are woven in a roundish fashion with jute
string or soft cane slips. A bamboo-made valve locally known as ‘par’ (Bengali)
and ‘kal’ (Assamese) is fitted in the middle of the chepa to allow the fishes
to enter inside with no scope for going out.
Dori- Fishermen in the rural areas of the state manufacture
dories of various types. A ‘dori’ is generally rectangular. It is prepared out
of small bamboo strips woven with flexible cane slips. A trap is fitted with a
‘dori’ in such a way that a bamboo-made screen is prolonged inwards from either
side of the oval mouth and the pointed splints of the two sides interlock
together.
Parans- These are various cages or basket traps made of
bamboo splits used for catching fishes. There are two kinds of ‘parans’, namely
(i) ‘uba paran’ (vertical cage) and (ii) ‘pora paran’ (horizontal cage). These
are provided with one or two valves or trap doors through which fishes can be
easily trapped.
All these implements mentioned above are generally used in
catching fishes in shallow water. Apart from these contrivances, there are some
other implements made of bamboo and cane and are used for catching fishes in
deep waters. These are locally known as gui, jhuti, dingaru, thupa, hogra, etc.
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