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

Then a space of 50 to 100 feet of water
front is secured from the government as a
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 is
lifted TO the surface. Then an excavation Is
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, and year in and
wear out he Tor she, for often the women tend
the nets) stands and at intervals lifts the net
to secure any chance victim that may be
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, a 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
| tance and such is the state of affairs on all
the waterways of the empire. Small streams
| and sha How lakes are fished by dip nets con-
| structed upon small boats which are porta-
! ble. For deep water fishing cast net is en-
| ployed. This is simply wide extended sheet
! of netting with lead or iron sinkers on one
end. The net is coiled i'll the hands Of the
operator, and with a dexterous toss it is spread
4 full width over the surface of the water The
| leads sink rapidly to a common center, form
ing a bag-like shape with the net, which picks
up any fish that happens TO 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 net as was employed
by the fishermen who were induced to be-
come fishers of men in the time Of Christ.
Across narrow channels ~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 a most primitive and crude manner.
was crossing a shallow lake near Kin
Kiang, and observed a lot of bamboo rods
sticking il the bottom Of the lake and extend
ing several feet above the water, upon :he
branches of which hells were attached.
Lines we're fastened 10 the rods, with Saite'i
hooks When fish was fastened opon cne
of thesJ books in its efforts to free i:self rh!
bell would ring and the fisherman in ~aitin4
would thus be notified where his service:
were required. This was very Scit'Eg sport
or would have been to one fishing for sport
saw the pattern, no doubt, of the first or
most primitive device for taking fish by
means of baited hook. 1t was simply this
bamboo splint with n cord attached to the
center, and the two ends were brought to
gether and inserted i'll piece of flesh. Wher
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 fishs mouth or stomach, and hold
! IL until II rr,ild he landai