Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-10-28

'~'~% NSbt ~ taAhSr W w lIS fl1lt
escape his more swift fiighted oppressor. In
self-defense 1T was forced to dive, and when
under the water its instinct would overcome
all other influences, and it would bring I'D a
fish. The gull would poise on wing and
watch for the temperance of the slave, and
a fsh no sooner appeared above the water,
when 1t was seized by the gull and taken
away from its rightful owner. | am con.
Vlnced that many species of swift winged fish
eaters utilize wild cormorants to secure their
food and thus establish a species Of bird
slavery.
Many fine food fishes are found in the Chi
nese markets. In season shad are abundant
at a cost to the consumer of about four cents
per pound. They nave what they call a
Mandarin fish" which has only a spinal and
rib bones, and its flesh is of fine flavor. Other
Representatives of the bass and perch fami-
lies, also cells, catfish, etc, representing the
s~caleless families, are abundant. Brook trout
| found in the small streams in the mountain
districts. During a high overflow of the
Yang tse kiang the water stood about two
feet under the house | occupied, and the fish
swarmed at my kitchen door to feed from the
sweepings from che table. l spent many
hours watching the movements of my new
companions in their natural state. One day.
i#tiiia observing II peculiarly formed speci-
men, l was delighted to see it rise silently to
the surface, and, with a well directed aim,
fire a water drop at least three feet high and
Knock a fly from a rose bush into the water
and capture it. 1t was the first and only
specimen of the "archer fish, / ever saw in n
wild state.
One day my cook called my attention to
two large specimens of a spotted scale fish.
wplpbinp nerhopS fva mounds n,aL, Faa1;a.
in the yard near my window. They were
following a large school of new Matched young
fish, as l supposed, to make a meal of them,
l soon observed that when any other fish APP
preached these, the large ones would strike
at and chase them away
In order to test their motireAI fred an
arrow into the midst of the young brood.
scattering them. The parents flew rapidly
hither and yonder in apparent search for the
enemy, and, as no cause could be found for
the stampede, they proceeded to collect the
scattered brood of young and hustled them
off to a place of safety. This was the first
and only Instance of the parental instinct in
fish that l. have ever seen. There was no
room, however, to doubt that these were tax
ing a parental care of their young brood.
The Chinese are fond of fish as pets. The
gold fish and other ornamental and variegated
varieties are cultivated with great skill. Most
all the homes of the better-to.do Cinnamon
are provided with q miniature fountain for
fish pets.
L never saw any indications of whale fish
cries, although these are seen in Chinese
waters. Porpoises, called "hog fish, and
devil fish abound there, but are not pursued
as q business. Chinese markets are supplied
all the year round with fresh fish, and also
dried and salt cured of various kinds abound.
Sharks fins are regarded by them as a. deli
cacy second only to edible birds nest, and this
constitutes an important article of import.
The supply is brought chiefly from the islands
of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. The
people of China, as well as foreigners soiourn-
ing IN that country, do not wait for Friday
for fish day, but draw largelyfo their daily
menu from the fish markets, Pious Buddhists.
who seek to lay up treasures in heaven in the
performance of what they call "works of
merit" what we sometimes call sworks of
s~upererogation, go into the markets and buy
fish or squiiming eels and liberate them. By
thus saving life, at such a sacrifice of money
and appetite, they secure immunity from
blame or sin in cheating their fellow men, or,
III expressing The weak and ignorant of their
countrylien. Arsan who will lie in a bust
ness transaction, or deliver over a hungry fell
low to acruel torture, if he should steal a din
ner, or who. viii partake of the ill-gctten
gains of fraud and overTeacting in trade.
will make atonenlent to his conscience by SET
ting at liberty Il few almost brainless seels or
fish. ButSmen who strain at gnatsn and get
swallow eamels" with IMMUNITY are neither
all dead nor do all reside in China.
.H w N D-x--