The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-15


Then the Chinaman uttered several gut
tural ordinations, and signaled the bird
to come in by Jerking his thumb back
over his shoulder. The cormorant swan
tantalizingly slow TO the raft. The Chi
naman caught it by the neck and dragged
it out of the water lie cuffed it sound
ly on the head and threw it violently on
the bamboo l thought the poor bird
must certainly be killed, but it arose
coolly to its feet, and at the signal limped
sullenly off to the end of the raft where
the first cormorant was resting strong in
its masters affection and approval. This
bird manifested unmistakable delight at
the discontinue of its companion, but
the Others seemed to notice nothing but
the movements of their master.
1.-THE Chinaman next held out both
hands and took two of the remaining
birds at once. These seemed to appre-
ciate his caresses, and as they were TO be
worked together, to feel that the COM
petition would result in greater or less
reward. AS they waited for the signal
they eyed each other jealously. When
the Chinaman waved his hand both birds
cut the water at once and disappeared
/ together. In ten seconds one of them
came up. 1t had fish. 1t looked
eagerly around on all sides. Its rival
had not yet appeared. The cormorant
hastened toward the raft. Itwas within
two feet Of it before the other bird had
come to the surface, and then the second
one appeared Immediately in front of
the first one, and with a large fish in its
bill. Both birds mounted the raft to-
gether, and neither had any advantage
of the other in delivering their catches to
the uninterested Chinaman. The two
cormorants were caressed and sent back
into the water. The second time both
birds came to the surface close together.
One had fish and the other had failed to
catch one. When this one saw its sue
cessful rival it became wild. 1t thrashed
about in the water, seized the other bird S
fish, and endeavored to take it away. A
shout and signal from the Chinaman
caused the unsuccessful fisher to release
its hold on the rightful owners fish.
The successful bird swan to the raft
with its catch and proudly placed it in
its masters hands. While it was being
caressed the other cormarant swan fran
tically about, waiting for the signal from
the Chinaman that would give it an
other trial This was not given until
the successful bird was also ready for an
b other dive. and both birds went down to-
gether. This time the one that failed
before was the successful bird, and the
other one passed in under the ban.
"In this way the old Chinaman contin-
ued fishing with his birds for hours.
Sometimes cormorant would bring to
the surface fish too large for it to sue
! trH
: would be sent to its aid. When the
! Chinaman ceased fishing he had nearly a
bushel of fish, all alive in his baskets.
They were species of carp, beautifully
marked in many colored stripes. Once
in while / noticed that the bird brought
in fish that aroused the ire of the old
! Chinaman. These he battered against
the raft, and then chopped them in
pieces and threw them into the water.
These fish, 1 afterward learned, were a
worthless kind of pike.
''The best and most intelligent fishing
comorants come from the Province of
Che Kiang. The eggs of ths bird are
!, collected after the first laying of spring,
which is in February, and are placed
under domestic hens to be hatched, as
the maternal love and care of the cormo-
rant is so feebly developed that their
young find no protection from them.
The young, just hatched, being ex-
tremely week and delicate, and very
prone to succumb to the slightest chill,
are put in softly padded or wadded bam-
boo baskets, where they can be kept at o
! uniform temperature. They are fed with
pellets of ground beans and finely chopped
eels until they are month old. Then
they are covered with feathers and
!, are fed on the eels alone. When
the young cormorauts are two months
,, old they are worth from So to 81 pair
| aud live on young live fish. No effort is
/, , made to train them until they are five
months old, by which time they have
their growth. They are first tethered by
/, string around one foot on the bank of
! stream or pond, the trainer stirring the
water with pole, and after a time the
birds learn from words and motions of
, his, after throwing some small fish in the
.. water, that such Is the signal for them to
take to the water.
"Tfe cormorants are kept scantily fed
while being trained, and they attack the
fish with avidity. They are taught by
other words and signs the signal for
leaving the water, pulling of the string
on their foot emphasizing the signal.
; These lessons are given for three months,
, and then the practice is given the birds
from boats and RATS. A month of this
and the cords are removed. The birds
that have been too stupid to learn their
I lessons are killed. The male birds arr
! the most intelligent, and, after being
: trained, command $25 a pair. A cor.
! morant only lasts four years at the Sut
. side, passing then into helpless decrepi
; tude. .