Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-20
making perfumery. The daffodil, which
is found everywhere, is also much used.
The lemon also is used in perfumery, and
SO is the orange"
Chinese Fishing.

Among their fishing appliances are dip
nets, large squares of netting, extended
on n framework of bamboo, which is
weighted aud suspended from apole, that
has to be alternately raised and lowered
either from bank or boat and brings
up each time all the fish that may have
been passing over it. The casting-net is
very familiar, but China is its peculiar
home, and it is there used in varying
sizes by men and children of all ages. A
more original method of capturing fish
Is that pursued by what are known at
Swatow as "slipper-boats." These craft
are generally 25 feet long and IS inches
wide, and they fish in couples, moored
side by side, on bright moonlight nights,
their only implement of capture being
n white board fastened along the outer
side of each. This board catches the
bright rays of the moon, and the fish, who
would seem to be of a confiding disposi-
tion i'll this portion of the empire, are
said to mistake it for water, and to leap
from their native element into the slipper
boats in large numbers. lnnumerable
devices of this character, peculiar to the
country, nre in the international Fishery
Exhibition on show in the Chinese an-
mex.
This would seem to be branch of the
industry naturally commencing itself to
the minds of people who have been
universally credited with more than or
dinary amount of cunning. Their fish
traps are, moreover, manifold and varied,
and of the highest workmanship nnd
utility. In the British Isles this is
means OF taking fish practically unknown
and unpracticed, with the exception of
our stereotyped eel and lobster pots but
the Chinese. devote themselves largely to
these strategic methods of fishing, and
with an unvarying success that nothing
but the boundless fertility of their rivers
and seas could explain or Withstand. The
day will perhaps come when Western
ideas will penetrate sufficiently there to
insure the suppression of wholesale fish
poisoning, and such like fatal poaching
arrangements for the capture of small fry
as are rather too candidly exhibited here ;
but at present we can only admire, per-
haps with tinge of detection, the hun
dred aud one devices employed in land
where, though every form Of unsports-
manlike destruction is rampant, the fish
supply seem to remain as abundant and
accessible as ever.
CormOrants are another means employ
ed by the Chinese on lakes and the shall
lower sheets of water for taking fish.
This aquatic species of hawking is Of
very old date, and was known and prac-
tised in England whittier it doubtless was
imported from the East two centuries ago
But it is followed with success only by
the painstaking Celestials. The birds,
which have to undergo regular training,
are taken out in boat, and, before the
work commences II strap or ring is placed
round each cormorant's throat, sufficient
ly tight to prevent its swallowing any fish
it may catc.l in its strongly-hooked beak,
but not 80 tight as to prevent respiration.
The Iark-winged fishermen then go off
and cater for their master with success
anu regularity, being rewarded with an
occasional fish that they are permitted to
swallow when the strap has been remov-
cd. Above all things the Chinese are a
frugal nation, making use OF substances
that would meet with culinary contempt
in any other country.
The discarded shark represents to them
valuable supply of food. The fins &c
to form the well-known soup, or are used
in the preparation of geletine while the
skin, after being cleaned and prepared,
serves for covering sword handles, and
for various other ornamental purposes.
Even the cuttle-fish, n creature repulsive
to fishermen of most other nations, is the
object of careful pursuit with nots ant
lines by the Cinnamon, at time wheI
other work is,'slack and, carefully dried an,
packed III bales, commands ready sale al
through the Flowery land. The oyster
also, and its pearl.bearing kindred, thu
Chinese muSsel nre not merely LOOKED
upon as dainties Though cultivated
with skill and science us such in the frs
place, their refuse shells are burnt TO
lime, and, while still living, they are in
duced to secrete the hard, white substanc
which is 80 highly valued for its beaut,
and scarcity all over the world.