Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-24

once observed seagull striking at wild
cormorant, which could not take to wing and
escape his more swift flighted oppressor. In
self-defense it was forced to dive, and when
under the water its instinct would overcome
all other influences, and it would bring up
fish The gull would poise on wing and
watch for the reappearance OF the slave, and
a FISH no sooner appeared above the water,
when it was seized by the gull and taken
away from its rightful owner. / am CON
WINGED 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 have what they call
Mandarin fish" which has only spinal and
rib bones, and its flesh is of fine favor. Other
representatives of the bass and perch fami-
lies also eels catfish, etc, representing the
scaleIess families, are abundant. Brook trout
found in the small streams in the mountain
districts. During a high overflow of the
Yang tse kiaEg the water stood about two
feet under the house | occupied, and the fish
swarrpcd at my kitchen door to feed from the
sweepings from the table. l spent many
| hours watching the movements OF my new
| companions in their natural state. One day,
while observing a peculiarly formed speci-
men, 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 fy from rose bush into the water
and capture it. 1t was the first and only
specimen of the "archer fish" l ever saw in a
wild state.
One day my cook called my attention to
| two large specimens of a spotted scale fish,
weighing perhaps five pounds each, feeding
in the yard near my window. They were
following large school Of new hatched young
fish, as | supposed, to make a meal of them.
/ soon observed that when any other fish ap-
preached these, the large ones would strike
at and chase them away.
In order to test their motive | fired an
arrow into the midst of the young brood,
scattering them. The parenuS 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 III
fish that | have ever seen. There was nc
room, however. to doubt that these were tax
ing a parental care of their young brood.
The Chinese are fond of fish pets. Th'
gold fish and other ornamental and variegated
varieties are cultivated with great skill Mos
all the homes Of the better-todo Chinamer
are proyided with miniature fountain fo
fish pets.
never saw any indications of whale fish
cries, although these are seen in Chimes
waters Porpoises, called hog fish" art
devil fish abound there, but are not pursue'
as a business. Chinese markets are suppliet
all the year round with fresh fish, and ais
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 thi
constitutes an important article Of import
The supply is brought chiefly from the island
of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. tn
people of China, as well as foreigners sojourn
ing in that country, do not wait for Frida
for fish day, but draw largely for their dali
menu from the fish markets Pious Buddhist:
T who seek TO lay up treasures in heaven in tn
/ performance of what they call works q
t merit what we sometimes call "works Q
r supererogation,' go into the markets and bu
= fish or squirming eels and liberate them b
5 thus saving life, at such a sacrifice Of none
5 and appetite, they secure immunity froI
5 blame or sin in cheating their fellow men, c
4 in oppressing the weak and ignorant of thei
: countrymen. A man who will lie in a bus
d ness transaction, or deliver over hungry fe
low to a cruel torture, if he should steal a dill
{ ner, or who will partake of the ill-gotte
e gains of fraud and oyerreaching in trad
e will make atonement to his conscience by Sc
:, ting at liberty a few almost brainless eels {
e fish But men who strain at gnats' and g
, swallow camels" with impunity are neitht
d all dead nor do all reside in China
: W. G. BENTON.