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

CoRMoRANT FISHING.
! once observed a seagull striking at a 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 a
fish. The gull would poise on wing and
watch for the temperance 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. l am con-
WINGED that many species of swift winged fish
eaters utilize wild cormorants to secure their
food and thus establish q 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 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
scaleleSs 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
e ullNlC lLC AOuSC L ONNhRlCNNY olN NbS ISL
swarmed 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. Onc day,
while Observing a peculiarly formed speci-
men, / was delighted to see it rise silently to
the surface, and, with n well directed aim,
fire q 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" 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 a large school Of new Matched young
fish, as l supposed, TO make n 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 motive | fired an
arrow into the midst of the young brood,
scattering them. The parents flew rapidly
hither and yonder III apparent search for the
enemy, and, as no cause could he found for
the stampede, they proceeded to collect the
scattered brood of young and hustled them
off 10 a place of safety. This was the first
and only instance of the parental instinct in
fish that l nave ever seen. There was no
room, however, to doubt that these were tax
ing q 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 tho better-to-do Cinnamon
are provided with a miniature fountain for
fish pets.
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 a 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 s~ojourn-
ing in that country, do not wait for Friday
for fish day, but draw largely for their daily
menu from the fish markets. PiouS BuddhiStS,
who seek to lay up treasures i'll heaven in the
performance of what they call works Of
merit" what we sometimes call "worES of
Su~pererogation," go into the markets and buy
fish or Squirming GELS 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
in expressing the weak and ignorant of their
countrymen. A man who will lie in q bust
ness transaction, or deliver over a hungryfel
low to acruel torture, if he should steal a din
ner, or who will partake of the ill-g0tten
gains of fraud and Overreaching III trade,
will make atOnement to his conscience by set
ting at liberty a few almost b~rainless cells or
fish. But men who "Strain at gnatS" and get
swallow camels' with impunity are neither
| all dead nor do all reside in China.
w. G. BENTON.