Basnig

Basnig is a traditional way of catching fish (tuna, scads, anchovies, etc.) in the Philippines. They lure fish with gas-powered lights during the nightly fishing trips. It is composed of 24 to 30 person / crew per boat. They usually went to the sea during the afternoon and stay there and come back to shore in the early morning.

They use bamboos that are installed on each part of the boat (short on the front tip and rear tip of the boat, two on both sides on the first section of the boat, two on both sides on the mid-section of the boat and two again on the last part of the boat each of the bamboos has a pulley and cable on it. Each cable is attached to the net the other end is tied up on a pole. There are at least 8 cables that is connect to different parts of the net it also has a 5 pound metal attached to each end so that it would sink. They use huge nets and gas - powered lights to attract fish during the night they usually switching on the lights at about 5:30 or 6:00 pm when it's already dark enough. Then the crew will have to rest and wait for the fish to be attracted with the lights. If there's enough fish to be caught (usually the captain of the ship must observed the waters and the movements under the boat) the captain will then ask the crew to get ready. First, the lights from the mid-section of the boat will be turned off then the rest will follow. The lights on the front and rear portion of the boat will remained on this is to make sure that the fish will stay under the boat but spread out on the rear and front part. The net will then be released in the mid-section of the boat this will be done very slowly to prevent disturbance of the fishes.

After a few minutes of carefully releasing the net into the sea. The captain will then estimate how deep the net should go and then each crew will measure the rope according to the captain's command (they use 'dipa' as measurement, it is the span of two extended arms). Captain is usually called Piloto or Pilot. After completely laying the net underneath the sea the Piloto will call on the Makinista to turn on the lights, again one by one, now from both tip to the midsection. Then after a few minutes or an hour of observation the Piloto will then command the Makinista to turn off both lights on the front and back tip of the boat until it reaches the mid-section. The Piloto then commands the other crew to pull the cables. There are 8 bamboos with cables. Each cable needs 2 persons to pull it and another one that acts as resistance.

Each crew has their own responsibilities. Like for example: A Pilot or Piloto is the head of the boat. There are 2 Pilotos on each boat sometimes 3. They are the Piloto (Captain), Segunda Piloto (2nd Pilot) and sometime Tricera Piloto (3rd Pilot), Makinista (machinist) in charge with the motor and the electrical system, Timonil is like the driver, Taong Lambat in charge with the net in case of damage, Kusinero the Cook, and the rest are just crew members.