With rows of boats docked along the bank, the shoreline of the Kuriana Khal (canal) in Pirojpur's Swarupkathi upazila may look like a wharf at first glance. But a closer look reveals a different story.

People arrive and leave the scene on boats -- haggling over prices, checking the lined up vessels and other equipment, including paddles and oars, while stacks of small boats reach the market on large vessels.

This floating spectacle, popularly known as "Noukar Haat" (boat market) is the biggest boat selling market in the country, stretching over two kilometers on the Kuriana canal that flows between Banaripara upazila of Barisal and Swarupkathi upazila of Pirojpur.

The weekly Haat is held on every Friday during the rainy season between the Bangla months of Ashar and Ashwin.

The boats provide low cost, convenient transport in the extensive inland waterways of Barisal, Pirojpur and Jhalakathi during monsoon when the region experiences regular flooding.

Moreover, the small light boats, suitable for plying on shallow waters, are also popular among guava farmers.

The guava farmers use these vessels to collect, carry and sell guavas that grow in abundance in the region during the rainy season.

"This is the time for collecting guavas from the orchards. Different types of small boats are usually used for collecting and selling the fruit," said Nirmol Halder, a guava farmer of Satadas Kati village in Swarupkathi.

The boats are of "Panshi" type, built with wood and constructed by local craftsmen of Chami, Boitha Kata, Dubi, and Kathali villages in the area.

Seasoning of timber is important in boat making, and tar and tannin of mangosteen (gaab) are used for coating the boat and to make it water resistant, said boat carpenters who came to the Haat to sell their products.

The commonly used timber for these boats come from local Koroi, Raintree, Jarul, Shal, Sundari, and Mahogany trees.

"We mainly use Raintree, Chambal, Sundari and Mahogany trees for making this type of boats to carry guava, crops and other nursery items easily on shallow water during monsoon," said Mohammad Hannan, a boat craftsman of Chami village.

"The price of each boat ranges from Tk 1,200 to Tk 5,000, depending on design, size, finishing, coating and construction materials," he said.

Anowar Hossain, a boat carpenter of Boitha Gata village, said, "These boats usually have a flat-bottom suitable for shallow water and the hull is not spoon-shaped. The boats are sold at a profit margin of 20-25 percent."

"The boats are on average 13.5 to 18 feet long and 3 to 6 feet wide and could be operated easily by one or two boatmen to cover short distances," he said.

Anwar Mistri of Chami village said the boat available at Noukar Haat could sail on shallow water in good condition for one or two seasons, depending on the wood, resin coating and other materials used in making the vessel.

"The demand for wooden boats in deep water and on long routes is falling rapidly with the arrival of steel-sheet and engine boats in the market," said Haripada Halder, a boat carpenter of Dubi Kathali village.

"As a result, the rich tradition, cultural heritage and technological know-how of boat making passed on from generation to generation in Bangladesh are being lost," he said.

This is affecting the lives of the more than 500 families involved in the construction, art and ritual of boat making in this region, said Sarwar Chowdhury, an izaradar (lessor) at Noukar Haat.

While large wooden boats that once reigned the mighty rivers of the country are disappearing fast, the seasonal Noukar Haat with its merchandise of small boats is struggling to keep the traditional boat making industry alive.