Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-17
HOW THE CHINESE CATCH FISH.

HOW lHE Cf1lNESE CAlCil ron.
The cormorant is largely employed as au as
sis,ant to the fishermen, and is carefully edu-
Gated to his work by professional trainer.
When thoroughly trained, pair OF birds IS
worth forty dollars, the high price beng ex-
planned by the cost of labor and instruction
During the first seven months OF Its lie, the
oormoraut is left with the flock, and is taught
by It's elders to feed itself on small fish. Alter
that age, however, collar is fastened about
its neck 80 that it caunot swallow its prey, and
to one of its feet cord, some two feet long, is
attached, terminating 10 bamboo float.
AT a signal from the fisherman, whose sole
implement is torked stick some ten feet long,
the cormorants plunge into the water aud
search for fish, each. bird, as fast as he catches
one on his beak, rising to the surface. The FISH,
erman then hooks the bird S float with his stick
and draws it toward him, taking the fish away
from the cormorant as soon as 1t comes within
reach of his arms.
When the fish is very large and weighs sew
en- or eight pounds, for example, the corrnor-
ants will assist each other, one catching the
fish by the tail, another by the head, etc. They
rarely catch anything weighing less than a
quarter of pound. After every capture a
small bit of fish is thrown TO the bird as re-
ward, the piece being sufficiently little for the
bird to swallow in spite OF Its collar.
Chinese fishermen keep their feathered as
sis,auts at work as long as daylight lasts. Oc-
casionally the birds become tired and refuse to
dive. proceeding which occasions a series OF
frightful yels and beating of the water with a
stick by their master which frightens them to
such an extent that they resume labor in
stantly.
The mode of fishing, which is not interrupt
ed even by severe cold, is quite lucrative, as
twenty or thirty birds can readily catch about a
dollar and half's worth Of fish per day. lu
general the fishermen are associated, and the
birds belong to society which marks them
with peculiar brand of its own Oil OF Sc
same is said to be the paDacea for all ills of the
cormorant which continues its career of active
work until about ten years of age.
1.-THE RIGHT TO Go TO HELL Recently
at q meeting in the north part OF the county
the exercises of the evening were closed by
+. general Invitation to all who wanted to 20 t
heaven to rise. The entire congregation, witt
q SOLITARY exception 10 the shape OF boy, rose
TO their feet. The conductor then varied the
invitation by asking all " no wanted to 20 tt
hell to arise. The solitary exception rose tt
his feet. Of course the good people were
scandalized, aud the result was the arrest o
the vou,h and his trial for disturbing the meet
ing. But to the intense disgust of those iber
af"souls, the Court held that if the boy wantee
to 60 to hell he had perfect right to do so
aud that such conduct did not necessarily dis
turb the meeting Within the meaning of th'
law, and, dismissiug the case. the boy was seq
on his way rejoicing. - Wright County (losoa
Monitor.
How MONEY GOES. The Southern Church
man, 10 its last issue is showing up the doing:
of the Virginia Bible Society. 1t appears tina
the society received last year from the church
es $4,000, and that it paid out for salaries anc
other expenses $500, and ouly $1,000 wa
appropriated for Bibles. The general agent
AZ. ,na;o., raoo;yoa GO 900 From rho ehor,