MUKAH: Many traditional methods of fishing and the fishing implements themselves have sadly become obsolete and hence forsaken in favour of more efficient methods and equipment.
This is true in a lot of fishing community in many places, but for some reason, the Melanau folk of Kampung Tellian here are hanging on to what they’ve inherited from their ancestors. And there is a good reason for that.
Here, there is a season when fish comes in huge numbers from the river to the sea and vice versa. That’s the time when the Tellian folk would take out their “seliduk” or “selidouk” (the local tongue for “scoop net”) to harvest the fish.
This fishing implement is of varying sizes as they are used by adults and children alike.
A resident of Kpg Tellian, Mia Jamba, explained that the “menyelidouk” (literally scooping of fish) activities are carried out at low tide when the fish get swept away as the sea recedes during low tide. When the tide comes the fishers trap the fish as they get pushed back upstream.
These activities still go on because the villagers want to catch river fish that can be processed into “ikan pais” which is used as “tebaloi” (sago biscuit) fillings. When they catch big perch, ehouk or tilapia, they are preserved to be eaten when the fishermen can’t go to sea during the rough monsoon season.
In addition, the preserved dish can also be a dish by itself when eaten with “linut” (a sago dish).
Unfortunately, the “menyelidouk” activities are not carried out in other estuarine or riverine villages anymore. Hopefully the Tellian folk preserve for posterity what they have got.
