Tuba Fishing in Sarawak

Derris elliptica (tuba)
The Foochow farmers used to look out for d. elliptica in the forest in the lower Rajang Valley. Some of the best areas for this wild plant was Tulai and Ulu Bintangor. The farmers would pull out the roots and bundle them up for sale in Sibu. These bundles of tuba roots are very smelly and would not be allowed in any home!!
The roots would be pounded (pestle and mortar) in the garden or farm, and water would be added to make a white solution. This was a good pesticide. It was also useful to get rid of mosquitoes in the olden days. In 1976 the state secretary of Sarawak was Datuk Abang Haji Yusuf Puteh. this was his official memorandum on the banning of tuba fishing.

Tuba fishing in the past was a festive occasion, very much like cock fighting, approved by Residents and District Officers in Sarawak. It was a time for merry making and also an occasion for many to look up friends and relatives. Some families even took the opportunity to look at potential spouses for their children. When a tuba fishing event was organized, it was almost like a regatta.  
The pounded tuba roots which gives out a white smelly solution would be thrown into the river (a small tributary, or even a portion of the big Rajang River, for example) to stun the fish in the river.
Boats of all sizes would be taken out at a certain given time and to wait for the stunned fush floating in the river. It was every man for himself. Some were able to go home with more than 10 kilos of fish!!

NO licences under the Minor Offences Ordinance or under the Fisheries Act are to be issued under any circumstances.
I have been wondering for sometime if the ban on Tuba Fishing has been lifted.



OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM FROM        :     State secretary                                 TO        :     All Residents
                                                                                                      All District Officers
SUBJECT   :     Tuba Fishing
Ref              :     115/PKM/1688                               Date     :     15th March, 1976.


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                I am directed to inform you that with immediate effect tuba fishing.in the State is completely banned. Therefore, from now on, NO licences under the Minor Offences Ordinance (Cap. 56) or under the Fisheries Act (No. 8 of 1963) are to be issued under any circumstances.

(Sgd.)
( DATUK ABANG HAJI YUSUF PUTEH )
for State Secretary c.c.     Commissioner of Police.
           Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and
                Community Development.
           Director of Agriculture.
           Director of Marine Fisheries.
           Curator, Sarawak Museum.