The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-21

to prevent the fish from being swal-
lowed. and this string requires the |
incest adjustment, lest it may choke
the bird-a result which would GER
tainly follow if it slipped lower down
on the neck. The sagaclty anu WIN
man-like methods Of the bros are
shown when they get into difficulties.
If the fish caught is too large for one
beak to secure, another cormoran1
comes up to the struggle, and the two
with united efforts bring their prize
to the boat. On the rivers and canals
near Ningpo, Shanghai, anu roo
chow-foo, the employment OF THESE
birds is by no means an uncommon
sight: but they are never TO De seen
fishing in the summer months, tnelr
yorksbeing in the winter, beginning
ALWAYS about October and ending IN
Nav. The birds have of course to be
subjected to a system OF training,
which is carried on in the cormorant
breeding and fishing establishments,
one Of which it at a distance OF thirty
or forty miles from Shanghae.
A still more singular practice IS TO
be found amongst the Chonos Indians,
who train dogs to help them on their
fishing expeditions in much the same
as the shepherds dogs help the shep-
herd. The net is held by two men
standing in the water, and the dogs,
swimming out far and diving after
the fish. drives them back towards 1t.
They enjoy their work just as good
as q horse, though hard pressed,
seems to enjoy the hunt; and every
time they raise their heads from the
water they tell their pleasure by clam.
orous barking. The Feuglans, one OF
the mostmiserable nddegraded races
on the earth, train their dogs IN a
similar manner to assist them IN
catching birds and sea offers. In
times of famine, they kill the old
women Of their tribe rather than sac
rifice their dogs, alleging, as Peschel
SAYS, that dogs catch offers, and
women do not. They have a wonder
full continuance for killing the sharks
| which abound off their coasts. A log
of wood, shaped SO as to appear some
thing like canoe. is set afloat, with a
rope and large moose hanging from the
end of it. Before long shark attacks
the supposed canoe, swimming after
it, and is caught in the moose, hanging
from the stern. 1t closes on him So
that he cannot eXtricate himself, and
the weight of the log keeps him
swimming slowly without being able
to sink. Then the Feugians in theil
canoes, generally steered by women
approach at their leisure and finish
the shark with their spears.
All these contriyanceS OF savage
nations, or of the strangely civilized
Chinese, are meant to kill or seize
the fish by natural means. tits mucf
nearer home that we have to look tt
find the element of superstition pre-
vailing, and useless customs invested
with the Importance OF charms. Al
instance may be found in the case OF
the Sicilian fishermen, who, when il
search Of swordfish, chant a jargon OF
words the meaning of which ever
they themselves do not know. The
song is supposed to be some old GrecE
verses. which, by time and use among
those ignorant of their meaning, have
become so altered as to be almost un
recognizable. The fishermen regard
the medley as sure means o. attract
ing the swordfish, which they harpool
from the boot. when the charm, a
they suppose, has brought them with
in reach.
Far away in northern regions Their,
is novel method of fishing under ice
which shows more ingenuity than tn
simple lowering and fastening Of
net. A small square hole is cut in tn
ice. and in this is placed an uprigh
stick, supported by a cross pin ru1
through it and resting at each side OF
the ice; the end of the stick below
this cross pin is short, and to it tn
line is fastened with the bait and hoo
attached, while at the top Of the stlcl
is a piece of colored rag. Now, though
we have called the sticl. upright, !
meant TO fall from that position am
lie along the ice, until a fish seizln
the hait pulls its lower end,when wit
Jerk it rises. This continuance i
called a tip-up, from the movemen
which is certain to follow the seiZur
of the bait. The fiuttering of tn
cdlored rag, as the stick rises, tells o
T capture; and a great number Of thes
self-acting fishers and indicators ma
be placed near together, each hayini
its own hole in the ice; and each, b
.. the futtering rag, telling it's own tai
the moment fish if caught.
The tip-up not only saves the fishe
, the trouble of holding his line in pos
! ton and watching with peculiar care
but also makes the fish itself strik
. and announce that it is ready to b
pulled out.
) With bodies blackened by the su
to the color of the sea-weed, the JaI
anese fishermen are incommoded b
neither the rain nor the winds. Llk
, the fishermen Of all lands, their resi-
. less eyes are wandering from the sea
to the heavens. With no guides bu
. the stars by night and the blue edg
! of the land by day, there was nee
for keen eyesight and watchfulnes!
, | In all the Eastern seas there is u
, more adventurous race than thes
men:
We could see the floats of burn
wood which buoyed the ends OF GU
fishermen's lines, ard to the neares