The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-05-16


ry of the testator. The newly marriei
pair have just left PARIS with the inten-
tion OF speeding the honeymoon at Nice"
FtsltNG WITH CoiNoRANrs.-At full
tide, the bridge across the Mill at Fuh-
Chau may often be seen crowded with
men viewing tie ieats of the tame fishing
cormorants. These birds look at the
distaiice hb6tt the size of goose, and
are Of dark, dirty color. This fisher
man who has charge Of them stands upor!
ihil about two aid half feet wide,
afid fifteen Or twcniy feel lUhg, made out
Of life bamBoos ot similar size and shape
fastened together. it is very light. and
is propelled by II paddle. A basket is
placed on it to contain the fish when
caught, Each raft hats three or four cor
moranis connected with H. Yfheh not
fishing, they crouch down stupidly on
the raft.
The fisherman, when he wishes TO
make cormorant fish, pushes or throws
1t oil the raft into the water. If it is not
disposed at once to dive and seek for
fish, he beats the water with his paddle,
Or sometimes strikes the bird. 50 It is
glad to dive and get out of his reach
When it has caught fish it rises TO tho
surface, holding ii in It's mouth, and ap-
pearcntly striving 10 swallow it A
string tied loosely around its neck. or
metallic ring, eilectually prevents swal-
lowing, except perhaps, in the case of
very small fish; it sw'tns directly for the
raft the fisherman, on seeing the prize,
paddles towards it with all speed least
it should escape from the bird Some
times the fish is "A large one, and there
is evidently Il struggle bctwceti It and the
cormorant. The fisherman, when near
enough, dextcrously passes nct-likc bag,
fastened to the end of a pole, over the
two and draws them both on the raft.
lie then forces the fish from the grasp
of the bird, and, as if 10 reward the lat
ter for his success, gives It 4 ns6utlffti
OF food, which it is enabled to swallow
on his raising the ring from the lower
part OF its neck. The bird, if fappcarcrft-
ly tired out is allowed to rest awhile on
the raft, and then it is pushed off into
the water, and IN de to dive and hunt
for fish rs before.
SUnfetimes the cormorant. from imper-
feet tramirg, swims away from the raft
with the fish it has caught. In such Il
case, the fisherman pursucs and speedily
ovcrtakcs the truart. Sometimes, it Is
reported, two or three cOrmorants assist
in securing large ard powcf full fish.
Ottcntimes two quarrel together for the
fish one has taken, Or one pursues the
other for the fish in its mouth At such
times the interest Of the spc tators on the
bridge increases TO noisy shoutings. The
bird is provided with a sort of pouch or
largethroat, in which the small fish aro
entirely concealed, while tie head or the
tail Of the larger fish protrudcs from its
mouth.
1t is only at or near full tide that
these birds are successful in catching fish
under or near the bridges. Then the
water is deep and comparatively still,
and the fish seem to abound in the vicin-
ty more than at low tide. At sue h
times there are frequently several rats
with cormorants fishing near the bridc cs.
The skill o. the fisherman in propelling
his craft. and the success of the bird in
catching his fish, are attested by the de-
lighted curiosity AMI animated interest of
the spectatories.-Erm ".SociM LJc 0t'
he Chutcse."