The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-02
QUEER FISHING IN ASIA.
Oriental Ways OF Catching Fish-Tor-
lures Ahead for Fishermen.
From the Washfn0fon Star

Oriental Ways OF Catching Fish-Tor-
lures Ahead for Fishermen.
From The Washington Star.
"The Chinese have many very curious
ways Of catching fish" said a piscicultural
sharp to a writer for the Star. I'm winter
they dive for them. A certain species de-
manded In the market seeks shelter during
the cold season under rocks at considerable
depth. They cannot be got with hook and
line and so the fishermen go down into the
water after them, plunging from a boat
Three dives are made each hour, and a fire
is kept up on board the boat for the purpose
of warming those at work between whites.
Not infrequently they come up bleeding
from the lungs, and rheumatism and skin
diseases render them disabled by the time
they are 40 years old.
ut was the Chinese who invented the
well-known plan Of capturing ducks and
other water fowl by wading toward them
with a basket over the head and dragging
them under water before they knew what
had caught them by the legs Theirs is the
idea OF employing cormorants to aid them
in fishing You have heard, doubtless how
the birds used for this purpose have collars
around their neckS to prevent them from
swallowing the game they capture. AT
signal given by their owner they plunge
into the water after the prey. Whatever
they get is taken from them, and they are
rewarded for every success with bit of
fish small enough for them Co eat, They
are forced to work very hard all day long.
but great care Is taken of them and they
are nursed most attentively when they are
sick. A bird is usually good for service
until IL is ten years old. The cormorant
fishermen are organized into societies, the
birds belonging TO each association having
q peculiar mark.
"In India also the natives employ many
methods Of fishing which seems odd to us
There Is in the district of Dude species of
so-called walking fish with snake like
heads, which are often seen floating on the
water as If asleep. The people shoot them
with cross bows. Usually they sink when
they are killed, so that they have to be
dived for afterward. In the Indus, the
Ganges and other streams are numerous
flsh-eating crocodiles which attain a length
of more than twenty-feet. Except when
near their nests and anxious to defend their
eggs they run away from human beings.
OF fish they catch an enormous number,
and il has been thought very strange that
the fishermen should not destroy suoh
rivals in their own business. But they re-
gard the mere suggestion of such an idea
with horror. saying that the crocodiles are
brother in trade.
The man-eating crocodiles of those rivers
are regarded as sacred and are never harmed.
OF late years they have destroyed more lives
than formerly. owing to the prohibition by
law Of the ancient practice OF consigning
corpses to the streams. 1t was the good old
way to I'LL the mouth Of the defunct respect
| fully with mud and leave the cadaver to be
swept away by the current Upon such
supplies of food the great saurians depended
largely. and being deprived of them, they
lie in wait to snap up living people and cat
tie. Five persons have been known to be
| carried off in one year at a single pool.
However, the country is overpopulated, but
one would not think tan agreeable death to
| die
1.-THE Buddhists in India have horror of
eating the flesh of animals, believing them
to be incarnations of human beings souls
but they permit themselves the luxury of
fish, usually getting around the difficulty by
| saying that the fishermen take away the
| fishes lives and are responsible. On the
walls of their temples are numerous frescoes
wildly depicting the terrible tortures which
| fishermen will have to endure in future
| state. In these paintings fires are repre-
| sented stirred by devils, who are dragging
the fishermen into the flames in nets, haul
ing them by hooks and lines and prodding
them from behind with fish spears.
"There is a story of Buddhist prest who
| lodged for some time at the house of fish,
erman. The latter bad recently reformed
and was pursuing another occupation.
After two days the guest asked why no fish
were served upon the table, and, being in
formed that his host was withheld by con-
scientious scruples from catching them, he
expressed his approval in high terms. At
| the end of week, however, he felt q crav-
ing for fish strong upon him and inquired
how far the fisherman's net stretched across
the neighboring stream. He was told that
it extended one third of the way across.
If that Is the case said the priest the
fish have their choice as to whether they
will be caught or not. So. IL they choose to
be taken NOBODY else is responsible. There
fore. you will do right to try and catch
| some
Accordingly the priest was served there
after with fish, Of which delicacy he would
have been deprived had il not been for the
wisdom which sacred books had taught
him"
| Nh GInnr II nrrn--I r,ahn a nuinr frir