Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-31
A DIPNET.

Then a space of 80 TO 100 feet of water
front is secured from the government rs q
field for operations. The sweep is planted at
the waters edge, with the net suspended over
the water, and a cord is attached to the ele
waited end of the beam, by which the net l.
lifted TO the surface. Then all excavation l.
made in the bank and covered in with reeds
or mating TO protect the occupant from rain
or storm. In this crude pit the "lone fisher
man. takes up his abode, II year III and
year out be TOR she, for often the women tend
the nets stands and at intervals lifts the net
to secure any chance victim that may b
taken. No bait is used nor is there any rule
by which to determine when to lift the net
1t is a pure game of chance. Yet in the
course of the day enough fish are usually cap
tured TO meet the wants of the fisherman, and
when enough are captured to go to the mar.
ket they are either carried or sent in boats
to the nearest city or village to be sold. In
going from Shanghai TO Hankow, Il distance
of 500 miles, | was impressed with the novel
sight of these dip nets lining the shores on
either hand at short intervals, the entire dis
lance, and such is the state of affairs on all
the waterways of the empire. Small streams
and shallow lakes are fiShed by dip nets con-
structed upon small boats, which are porta.
bic. For deep-water fishing a cast net is EN-.
ployed. This is simply u wide extended sheet
Of netting with lead or iron sinkerS on one
end. The net is coiled in the hands of the
operator, and with a dexterous toss it is spread
full width over the surface of the water. The
leads sink rapidly to a common center, form.
ing u baglike shape with the net, which picks
I'D any fish that happens 10 be in the water
thus inclosed. The net when thrown is drawn
in and coiled at the same time. When the
inclosed space is taken up the catch is landed
in the boat OF the operator and the net thrown
again. This is likewise random fishing, and
is no doubt the same cast het rs was employed
by the fishermen who were induced to be
come fishers of men in the time Of Christ.
Across narrow channels a "gill net" Is set,
and the fish in passing up or down the stream
are fastened in the meshes of the net and
captured.
There is but little fishing done in China
with hooks, and their hooks are made by
hand in q most primitive and crude manner
was crossing a shallow lake near Kin
Eiang, and I observed o lot Of bamboo rod
sticking in the bottom Of tho lake and extend
ings several feet above the water, upon the
branches of which bells were attached
Lines were fastened to the rods, With balted
hooks. When a fish was fastened upon one
of these hooks, in its efforts to free itself the
bell would ring and the fisherman in waiting
would thus be notified where his services
were REQUIRED. This was very exciting sport
or would have been to one fishing for sport
I saw the pattern, no doubt, Of the first or
most primitive device for taking fish by
means of baited hook. 1t was simply a thin
bamboo splint with q cord attached to the
center, and the two ends were brought to-
gether and inserted in a place Of flesh When
a fish took this into its mouth to swallow the
bait the splint was freed and would spring
back to its former straight position, cross
wise in the fish's mouth or stomach, and hold
it until it could be landed.
Cormorant fishing is extensively practiced,
and is both exciting sport anu 8 profitable
means Of catching fish -
Two people go out in boat or |sampan,"
and take from six to a dozen captive birds.
! One m~anipulates these, while the other-moSt
generally the fisherman's wife-rows the
boat
Two or three birds are put to work at a
time, while the relay sit in the boat and rest
The birds often are disinclined to work, and
when they are the operator feints TO strike
them, when they dive for safety. They are
swift swimmers and keen sighted under the
water, and most generally bring upa fish in
their beak. Each bird has a ring around Its
neck to prevent it from swallowing its
catches, and when q bird comes to the sur