Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-03
FISHING CORMORANTS.
A Sight Both Am using And In
 tive to Tourists.

tive to Tourists.
 [From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
 ''The first time I ever saw fishing cor morant at work, under the direction of it's Chinese master, thought it was one of the most amusing and at the same time interest ing sights imaginable" |" said Engineer George Dean, who has spent a number of years in China sI was walking along the Min river one day, soon after arriving in China, and came to bamboo float or raft moored to the pier or bridge. I noticed native squat ting on raft, and saw what at first I thought were a number of ducks grouped at one end of it. They were all faced toward the Chinaman, and he was gazing steadily at them with his hands on his knees. I stop ped to see what was going on. Suddenly the man extended his right hand, palm upward, toward one of the birds, which I then saw were not ducks for the one the Chinaman reached his hand to waddled as briskly as it could toward him, and hopped on the open palm. The man stroked his feathers fondly, rubbed his cheek along it's neck, which he kissed now and then, and talked to it in Chinese, evidently in endearing terms. The bird seemed delighted It laid it's head on the Chinaman's arm, rubbed it's peculiar bill against his face, and returned ali his caresses. This lasted at least minute, and then the man moved with the bird to the further side of the foat and placed it on the edge. Then for the first time it came to me that this was Chinese fisherman working with cormorants.
 "When the cormorant was placed on the edge of the raft it dipped it's bill in the water, snapped it together loudly, looked up and down the side of the float, turned it's head and fixed it's glistening black eyes an IL the surface without a sound, scarcely leaving a ripple behind it. The Chinaman seated himself again and awaited the appearance of his bird without any apparent concern or anxiety. The other birds remained standing at the end of the raft, almost motionless and without removing their eyes from their mas ter. The bird that had dived into the water remained beneath the surface for probably & quarter of minute, and then reappeared, popping almost out of the water as it came up. The lower half of the fish protruded from it's mouth The bird swan straight to the raft, climbed upon it, and, jumping on it's masters knee, held it's head up to him to remove the fish, The Chinaman pulled the fish from the birds mouth with one hand, while he stroked it's neck and plumage with the other, and whispered words of approval. The cormorant shook out it's feathers and showed it's delight in various ways. Again it's master placed it on the edge of the raft, and once more it glided noiselessly into the water. The other birds maintained their stolidity apparently unmindful of what was going on around them. The cormorant that was fishing appeared in a short time, and again had made successful dive. The same caressing was gone through with, and the bird was started in the water third time. It now seemed to be thoroughly warmed up to the work, and went at it with an avidity that showed plainly the pleasure it took in it. The third time it was gone longer than usual, and when it finally came up it had no