Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-12-24

And its subsequent actions proved
that it was. Its master placed il on
the edge of the raft. 1t didn't look
at him like the other one, but pumped
into the water instantly with splash
and disappeared. 1t was hardly be-
meath the water, though, before it
came up. and without fish. 1t swan
about like the first cormorant, but
showed no sign of distress or disap-
pointment over its failure to make a
catch, and it is doubtful indeed if the
bird made any attempt to capture q
fish. 1t kept its eyes on its master,
though, and when he angrily gave it
the signal to dive again it went down
instantly. The cormorant had evil
IDENTIFY made up its mind to be con-
trary, for it came up again, after u
stay as brief as the first dive, without
fish
''Now tho Chinaman rose. He
shouted something to the bird and
made an emphatic signal by jerking
his thumb back over his shoulder.
The cormorant swan tantalizingly
slowly to the raft. When it got there
the Chinaman seized it by the neck
and dragged it out of the water. He
cuffed it several times on the head and
threw it violently down on the bam-
boos. thought the poor birds lie
was surely crushed out, but it wasn't.
The disgraced cormorant rose coolly
to its feet and limped sul'enly away to
where the first cormorant stood,
strong and proud in it's masters love
and approval. The first cormorant
manifested unmistakable delight at
the discontinue of its companion, but
the birds at the other end of the raft
paid no attention to what had been
going on. They saw nothing but the
movements of their master.
''After another contemplative squat
on the raft before the still unused
cormorants, the Chinaman extended
both hands and took bird on each.
His caresses were fondly returned by
each of these cormorants, and early
in their work | discovered that they
were rivals and competitors in fishing,
and that they plainly felt the import
ance of the result of their competition
in the estimation of their master.
When they were placed side by side
on the edge of the raft they eyed each
other jealously, and when the signal
was given both cut the water and dis
appeared together. In very short
time one of them came to the surface.
1t had fish. Looking hurriedly
around on all sides to see if its rival
had made its appearance the bird
hastened toward the taft. 1t was
within yard of it when up popped
the other bird between the first one
and the raft. This cormorant also had
fish in its mouth. But, in spite of
its advantage, it d1d not beat the
rival bird to the float. The two
reached the goal together, and it was
practically declared draw game by
the Chinaman, for he treated them
both alike.
''On the second trial the two birds
came to the surface almost together,
after a very long stay. One had no
fish. When the unsuccessful one saw
its rival moving toward the raft with
fish in its mouth it became wild
with rage. 1t thrashed about in the
water, seized the other cormorant's
fish and attempted to take it away,
but at shout and signal from the
master it quickly relinquished its hold.
It's competitor swan to tho raft and
proudly deposited its catch at the
Chinaman's feet and received his
caresses, while the other swan fran.
tically about. waiting for signal to
dive again. This tie Chinaman did
not give until the successful bird was
ready. Both went down together,
and this time the result was reversed.
The unsuccessful cormorant OF the
previous trial was now the successful
one, and the other was under the ban
SIN this way the Chinaman contin-
ued fishing with his birds for hours,
and when he ceased he had his basket
which would hold half bushel,
heaped with fish from eight inches to
n foot in length. They looked like
herring. AS long as l was in China,
although l made many warm friends
among the cormorant fishermen, was
never able to find out from them how
they taught these queer birds to fish.
The Cinnamon seemed to hold the
method sacred secret. New York
Sun.