The pound net

Fishing is one of the earliest occupation for the inhabitants of Dobruja and it is the most important source of food. This tradition has passed from father to son. In low waters from the area (1 - 1.5 meters) pots were used for fishing. The pot (vârșă) or the pound net (vintir) are traditional fishing tools with elongated conical forms, made of rope net and spread across more rods circles or made of woven wicker branches. The „mouth” of the pot is inturned and lets the fish inside like a funnel. The pound net is sunk in the water, and it is fixed with stakes in the places where fishes are abundant (the experienced fishermen know where those places are located). They are left for a while so as fishes can get in. More pound nets are used in the same time, placed in a row and slightly sloping. Fishermen check them once in a while to see how much fish have been caught. One single fisherman can handle almost 80 pound nets. In order to get the fishes out the pound net is being shaken in the boat.

©National Museum of the Romanian Peasant