Fishing

The net might be 300 meters long and 10 meters deep, weighted and suspended from a cable, one end of which is tied to a tree on shore. The fishing team is perhaps 30 people in all, including small children. A half dozen team members in a canoe feed the net out as they trace a wide arc out to sea and back to shore, where the other end of the cable is then tied off to a second tree.



The rest of the team, remaining on shore, divides into two groups that simultaneously haul in both ends of the cable, slowly drawing the net ashore. It's hard work. A friend and I pitched in, but it was slow going, maybe a meter or two per minute. It might take an hour to haul it in completely. Then women with pans gather to buy the fish, carrying them to markets in the area.



We'd pulled our car over to watch. When we approached to get a better view, several of the team members requested a contribution. I asked, "How much?" A group of senior team members conferred. "100 thousand," was their determination, about $10. "OK, but I get to take pictures." The leader seemed astonished, took the money, and everyone gathered around for the photo.