Bagan or termal is a small hut on the sea built to trap fishes and squids during the night. I always amaze on how the fishermen are able to build bagan in the 3-8 meters deep sea. First, they make the stake frames from bamboo in the village. Then they bring the frames to the sea with boats and embed them in to 3-8 meters deep seabed. Interlace between the frames makes it stable. It cost about 2-5 million IDR to construct a bagan and usually it can hold out for 1-2 years if not swept by big wave storm beforehand.
Soon before nightfall, the fishermen will paddle their boat leaving for bagan. On bagan, they scroll down the net into water, lit on
petromaks, kind of lantern, and hang it under the hut, just before the sea level. The light from
petromaks will attract fish and squid to gather under it, just above the net. Then the waiting part is began. It could stand from 10 minutes till hours, depend on how much fish and squid gathered above the net.
Each bagan need at least 2 persons to operate. When it's enough fish or squid gathered above the net, one person will roll up the net, the other will standby in the hut to pull up
petromaks and then to catch the fish and or squid with a smaller scoop net with long handle from the net under.
In 1901, the Dutch colonial government official granted a piece of land to Xie Shou Shi, a well known, important and successful business man of that time. Xie brought in architect from his hometown of Fujian to built a big house on the side of river of that land. Today, this East West-combined style mansion is the only and oldest building that still standing in the town of Singkawang.
Hio on the altar of the old house of Xie.
Provided by the sea, caught by Kabung's humble fishermen and dried by blazing hot of coastal sun, dried salty fish are one source of incomes of the island inhabitants.
