india's ingenious fishing contraptions

if you happen to stroll along the coast of fort kochi in india you'll probably come face to face with rows of these enormous and complex bamboo contraptions, hanging over the water and (to me at least) resembling huge wooden insects. they're actually called 'cheena vala', or 'chinese fishing nets', and are a permanent fixture around these shores having already been standing in some form or another for centuries following their initial introduction between the years of 1350 and 1450 (or so it claims on a plaque near the nets).

especially when you consider how long ago they were originally designed, the structures themselves are incredible, and fairly effective. a huge net is attached to a 30m long (approx) cantilevered bamboo arm, the back end of which is attached by ropes to a number of rocks which act as an adjustable counterweight. to operate the larger of these nets can take up to 8 men, the majority of whom will raise and lower the rocks in order to raise and lower the net and another 1 or 2 usually walking the length of the beam to further control the net's journey.
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