Ancient fishing techniques preserved in villages

A woman holds a big fish caught during the winter fish hunt. [Photo provided to China Daily]

More than 300 metric tons of fish were caught in their massive net on Dec 27 last year, and the first fish caught at the start of winter fishing season fetched a record-breaking 918,888 yuan ($132,345).

Shi Baozhu, who is in his mid-80s, is the 19th generation of head fisherman. Shi began fish hunting when he was 15 and became the head fisherman at the age of 23. As the most experienced fisherman on Chagan Lake, he is the hero of every year's winter fish hunt.

"A qualified head fisherman has high expectations put upon him," Shi said, while squatting on the ice to observe the fish. "Experience is very important when it comes to locating the fish. When you walk on the ice and find small bubbles, it means the fish are still there."

Shi retired at the age of 55. His biggest concern used to be that the winter fish hunting technique would be lost one day. But now he no longer worries, as his apprentices have learned well and mastered the intricate skills.

"Chagan Lake's winter fish hunt is a living fossil for us to research the fishing tribes of ancient times and their methods," said Cao Baoming, a folklorist in Jilin. "The fish hunting process, with all its intricate details, makes for a good example of why it is important to protect these old traditions and our cultural heritage. It preserves people's memory," he added.

The winter fishing on Chagan lake is currently listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, and the Chagan Lake Bighead Carp has become a famous trademark in Jilin as well as a well-known product nationwide.