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History Of Use

Information from exhibition catalogue, titled Fishing Baskets of Asia Pacific: "Fish Trap- Ghunni (India). A fish trap in a box-like form, kept immersed in water. Made of bamboo stick woven and tied with strings taken from palm leaf sheaths. Bamboo is grown in abundance all over Bengal, but the price has steadily gone up over the years. The craftsmen belong to the Schedules Caste; most are full time basket makers because of demand throughout the year. Women help in the preparation of the bamboo splints when necessary."

Description

A large, rectangular fish trap (Ghunni). The main body of the trap is made up of thin bamboo strips running parallel to one another, and stitched together with palm leaf. The palm leaf has been twisted together into thicker strands, and is woven perpendicular to the bamboo. The trap's frame is constructed from thicker pieces of bamboo. This includes the edges of the trap, as well as further reinforcement on the sides, top, and bottom. All sides of the trap are closed except for the front. The front of the trap is made from two pieces that have been angled inwards to form an inverted triangle. There is a gap between the two pieces which allows fish to swim through. Inside of the trap, just beyond this opening, are two flexible structures made of thin bamboo strips. The strips are woven together in rows using palm leaf. The structures are tied to both ends of the trap, and pointed inward to keep fish from swimming back out of the box.

Narrative

Trap displayed in an exhibition in 1997 titled, "Fishing Baskets of Asia Pacific"; related to Canada's Year of Asia Pacific programming.