The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-05
Chinese Fishing.

The manner in which the Chinese employ
birds to catch fish with, on the river Mn, il
thus described by Lieut.. Habersham:
. As we passed under the massive block!
of gray granite upon the foaming breast 0
the rising tide, and shot out into the ex
| panding river beyond, we saw long 10"
raft of bamboo inoored under the lee Of the
! heavy pier to our right, on which were z
! Chinese fisherman, a basket, paddle, and
| five duck like birds, which we at once ina
! gined to be some Of the celebrated fishing
cormoraets' Of the East. We also imagined
that this might be our only opportunity for
witnessing their singular mode of fishing,
and consequently stopped, in tho hope that
the ChDaiDan would crafty our curiosity
Scarce had we rounded to- when be
reached out his hands towards the birds, the
nearest Of whom waddled up to him and
stepped into his open palm. He now
smoOthed his feathers with the right hand,
bent his mouth to his arched neck for a mo
ment, and then put him upon the edge OF
the raft. There the bird dipped his bin into
the water once or twice, snapped his head
from side to side, shook his tail several hirts,
and ended by diving suddenly into the tur-
bid water that washed his feet.
''ln the meantime, the four remaining
cormorants were huddIed together OIL the far
end of the raft, drying their feathers,
switching their tails, and looking altogether
quite cool and comfortable. After being
down from ten to fifteen seconds. the absent
explorer hoped suddenly out of the water
with quite good-sizcd fish in his mouth,
swan to his master, gave up the hai-swal-
lowed prize, and hoped upon his knee,
where he shook himself while the fish was
being put into the basket. His master then
strohed him down as befJre-much to his
apparent dclight-whispercd again il his
ear, and placed him once more upon the
edge Of the raft.
Again he d;ved, and again he came Up
with fish. lie then underwent similI
process Of caressing, and was once more
placed on the waters edge. Nyw, however,
fortune seemed to havcleft him. lie had no
fish when be arose after protractci hb-
sence, and seemed at a loss what II do lie
turned himself round in the water severa!
times, keeping his da eyes fixed upon his
masters. as if asking permission TO try
again. Suddenly the latter made motion
with his hand, and down heNent When he
came up he brought quite a large iish-cight
inches long, say-which struggled violently,
as though surprised at the unusual situation
IN which he found himself lie, too, was
pu: in the basket, the proud corru1raut once
more carcss d, aad then placed gently in the
centre Of ;Ae-ra.t Instead ol upon It's edge a.
formerly.
" This seemed TO tell him that lis services
were 10 loHger required. and that he had
acquitted himself with considerable credit;
for he moved of to the other Of the raft
with the stately step Of c n4ueror, while
the next in turn advanced 10 supply lis
place. They seemed to regulate tGcIr move
ments by nod or motion Of the hand from
their master COrmoraut No. was not a.
sprightly 4 looking bird Is his predecessor;
nevertheless, he brought up fish after the
first dive, gave 9:rt with lis expanded tail,
and swan TO his master to give up the pr.Zc.
he was taken out a, before, relieved of his
and euhSenuen,lv n'a~od aar'l., --
the edge Of tie raft. There he sat lew
moments perfectly m5tiOH.cs>, but seeming
suddenly to see a fish, dropped of Ike
piece Of lead, and nothing more was seen Of
LIN. for 1t least fifteen seconds. Then he
came to the surface with a spring that t0Ok .
h;ll. almost out Of the water tat having no
fish. His actions now expressed his d!-ap-
po.ntment almost as plainly as words could .
have done. He did not swim toward his .
master "a formerly, but kept >huH:ug about .
IN small circle, with hIs bright, unsteady .
glance fixed on him, at the imminent risk Of .
twisting of his neck.
The master pointed down with his fin
;er, and down went the unsuccessful fisher .
man Still no fish. &C more, and still 10 .
success. Finally, he was taken back upon .
the raft, slapped soundIy upon the head, and .
thrown angri,y down. lie Immediately
made tracks for the other end, tumolng
heels over head, and looking very much .
ashamed of himself The next in turn now
waidled forward; but, having seen eaough,
We continued or our way