Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-11-30

In Nieuhoffs account of the embassy of
Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer from
the Dutch East India company to the Empe
ror of China, in 1865, it is related that at ST.
ming chew, in the Province of Shan tong, on
an artificial channel of the Yellow river, the
Am AMBASSADORS witnessed the natives fishing
with cormorants. Here they saw them catch
fish with a bird called Lou-wa, somewhat less
than a goose and not much unlike raven
It has a long neck and bill like an eagle.
They go out in small boats made of bamboo
. canes, placing the bird on the outside, which
on sight of fish shoots down and swims
after it under water. AS soon as she has
caught her prey she rises, and the fisherman,
having taken it from her, sends her out to
seek more. To prevent the bird from swal
lowing her prey, they put an iron ring %
about her neck. If the fish is too big for
her to bring up she makes noise in the
water for the master to come to her help.
When they have caught enough for their
owners the ring is taken off and they are left
to fish for themselves. In case they
averse to diving they are brought to it by
beating. The fishermen pay yearly tribute
to the Emperor for the use of these birds,
which are much valued by the Chinese. One
of those which are we'll taught is often sold
for so tael of silver, which is about $50
guiders. The Dutch would have bought q
couple of an old fisherman of whom they
had some carp, but he refused to sell them
because they served to maintain his family.
He could not inform them either, whence
those birds came or how they were instruct
ed only, he said, they were left him by his
| ancestors and bred very seldom. *
In this river 1 once saw three cormorants
trying to tackle a large eel, which one of
them had brought up, but, from its size and
weight, could not hold. The other two
came to his assistance and the three worried
| it like hounds with II fox. Twice it broke
away and disappeared, the first time being
brought to the surface again almost immedi-
ately by two of the birds but the second
time it apparently contrived to bury itself in
| the mud and SO escaped. Sometimes for q
| treat the neck straps were removed and the
| birds were allowed to fish their ac-
count when a fine gorge was the result, after
| which good deal of whipping in" was re-
| quired to get them home. Cormorants are
by no means difficult to train, and do not re-
| quire half the care and attention which has
| to be bestowed upon hawks for example.
| They may be taken from the nest just as they
are ready to fly, or may be caught later in
| the year when fully feathered. The latter
| plan is preferable, for the birds have then
| had some experience in fishing and are sure
| to be in good condition. To catch them it is
| only necessary to visit some tidal harbor
| wherein there age large posts set to mark the
| river channel On which cormorants are fond
of resting. A few large gins, having the
teeth bound with list to prevent injury, may
| then be set, undated, on the square tops OF
two or three of the favorite posts, each gin
| being attached to the post by line with 8
float. 1t is easy to arrange with & fisherman
| to keep watch in a boat at little distance,
and as soon as a cormorant alights and is
trapped 1t will come off at once into the
water, and should be taken up as soon as
possible, q cloth thrown over the back anG
| wings, two corners being tied securely under
the chin and the other two corners under the
tail behind the legs. The bird may then b.
tethered by the legs until brought ashore
While this operation is being performed i
should be held firmly yet gently by graspinl