The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-11-19
FISHING WITH coRMoRANTs.
One of the Queer Things Seen by an Artist
In Japan.


In Japan.
At no great distance from us, perhaps
at a quarter of mile, light hickered
over the water. On our approach we
could distinguish man connected with
it, who apparently walked on the dark
surface. lie was evidently fisherman
or shrimper, and his movements had
all the strangeness of some long-legged
aquatic bird. He knew his path, and,
far out, followed some track OF ford,
adding to the loneliness as does crane
in marshy landscape. Then l saw
him no more, for he headed up the river
toward an opening between the hills
Suddenly haze of light rounded the
corner of tho nearest mountain, then
grew into line of fire coming toward
VI. Above the rustic of the rivers
course, and our own against it, came the
beating of a cry in unison. The line OF
fame broke into many fires, and VIC
could see the boats rushing down
upon us. AS quickly as l can write
it came in an even line,
wide apart-perhaps fifty feet or So
enough for us to pass between, where
upon we reversed our movement and
drifted along with them. In the front
OF each boat, hung upon bent pole,
blazed large cresset filled with pine
knots, making above cloud of smoke,
starred with sparks and long needles of
red cinders. Below in the circle of each
light, and on it's outer rim, swan many
| birds, glossy black and white cormo-
rants, straining SO at the cords that held
them that they appeared to be dragging
the boats AS they spread like fan
before the dark shadow of the bows the
cords which fastened them glistened or
were black in the light. Each string
ran through the fingers of the master
fisher at the bows, and was fastened to
his waist and lost in the glittering
straw of his rain-skirt Like four
finland driver, he seemed to feel
his birds movements. His fin
gers loosened or frightened, or,
as suddenly, with clutch pulled back.
Then came rebelious futtering, and
the white glitter OF fish in the beaks dis
ppeared-unavailing each bird was
forcibly drawn up to the gunwale, and
seized by tho neck encircled by its
string bearing collar. Then a squeeze
"a white fish glittered out again and
was thrown back into the boat. The bird
scuttled away, dropped back into the wa
ter, and shaking itself, was at work again
They swan with necks erect, their eye:
looking apparently over every thing
to allow the big cinders to lie unnoticec
on their oily fiat heads. But every few
seconds one would stoop down, ther
throw back its head wildly with a fisl
crosswise in it's mouth. Whom that fisl
was a small one it was allowed by thu
capacious gullet. Each pack guidet
by master varied in numbers, but
counted thirteen fastened to the wais
OF the fisherman nearest to u.s. Behin
him stood another polling; then farthe
back an apprentice, with one singh
bird. was learning to manage his feath
cred tools. In the stern stood tn
steersman using long pole. Ever
man shouted. as huntsmen encouragin
q pack. ''Hoo! Hoo! HooH'--makin
.. the cry whose rhythm we had hear
when the flotilla bore down upon US.
Ten minutes, a quarter OF an hou
more, passed as we kept alongside wit
!, motionless celebrity. l tried to sketc
I in the insufficient light-making some
, times one sketch right upon anothe
: so little could I see my lines in til
, treacherous light. Then the boa
, swerved off and were driven to I'll
: shore together, or as far as we could q
, to it, in the shallow water-John [
n Fargo, in Century.