(Baonghean) - For a long time, the leaves of the coi tree have been used by the people of the highlands of Nghe An to catch fish. By making a con (blocking the water flow) and then dropping crushed coi tree branches and leaves into it. In the stem and leaves of this tree, there is an active ingredient that makes fish's eyes sting, lack of oxygen and float. Currently, this way of fishing still causes many conflicting opinions. Fishermen say that this type of leaf only makes fish "drunk", "dizzy", and sting their eyes but does not kill them. When eaten, it does not affect human health and people have also been using this way of catching fish for hundreds of years.
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| Coi is a woody plant that grows abundantly along rivers and streams in the Western region of Nghe An. |
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| In the leaves of the coi plant there is a substance that makes fish "drunk" and forces them to float. |
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| The leaves are brought back and crushed so that the sap in the leaves can fully exert its effect. |
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| However, the resin in the leaves only works in shallow and slow-flowing water. Therefore, to catch fish, people have to create nets (block the water flow). |
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| The leaves after being stabbed are spread upstream. |
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| Just a moment later the small fish "fainted" and floated to the surface of the water. |
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| Bigger fish are only slightly "stunned", people use a scoop to herd the fish in. |
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| When the leaves are spread down, children can easily catch fish. |
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| After a while, the coi leaves were all washed away, people continued to crush the leaves and drop them down. |
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| Most of the fish that "hit" the coi leaves are small fish the size of a finger. |
Dao Tho - Ho Phuong
