Dr. S. L. Marbaniang
Young boys and girls are so busy going to schools and colleges to seek knowledge and then coming back home to rest for a while. In the evening they spend the time in helping their parents with the daily chore or completing their home assignment followed by watching of programmes on television or busying with their computers. This kind of a routine goes on for years together until they graduate from college or university. Consequently, the urbanized way of life does not afford this kids and teenagers a proper glimpse of the nature and its beauty.
It is a being observed that people who life in the towns and cities have little knowledge about the other things beyond their surroundings. They may have been told on the ecology and environment, the flora and fauna of their country, the clean air in the open space of the wild, the birds and the animals that live around the human habitation, etc. These may sound as fairy tales to some of them. But quite a good number of the urbanites and even some of the rural people are ignorant of life beyond their own homes.

Dr S. L. Marbaniang
Catching fish either simply by hands or by any means, whatsoever, has been an occupation of the people since ancient times or a sport to relax and enjoy. If we look or scan any local newspaper, we are not fail to catch the glimpse of advertisement which are becoming quite a regular feature in inviting people for a fishing competition, in an around Shillong or at a convenient location not far from the city. What attract more are the cash prizes amounting to lakhs of rupees to the winners. Of course, the organizers and owners of ponds usually reap profit, which is substantive enough since admission fees are more than a thousand rupees per fishing rod.
In the olden days, men used spears and nets or crude bone hooks. Gradually, the fishing tool is developed to facilitate in catching fish. For the beginner, the simplest tool is a pole and line, a hook, and some bait. The pole might be a cane or bamboo or any locally available material, provided that it was not easily breakable and light in weight, however, cane and bamboo poles are longer and stronger besides being cheaper and easily available. The line can be any type of thin string or a tough nylon. The line is tied strongly to the pole end. Bait used are worm, flies, sweets or any suitable type which are favourite of the fish, depending on the season, small fish are also used as bait if big fish are the targets. Once the fish bite the bait, there will be some slight movement of the pole and line. Accordingly the fisherman will utilized his skill to pull the fish and then catch it to store safely in a suitable container. The struggle between the fish and the fisherman may be sometime or even a longer time, depending on the type and size of the fish.