The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
HOW A CH1NAMAN FISHES.
TrainS Cormorants and Makes Suckers Do
It for Him.
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
Speaking OF the natural instinct and extent
to which the faculties o, birds may be devel-
oped." said an old bird trainer to the writer re-
Gently, perhaps one Of the most interesting
examples Of this Is the way the cormorant is
trained by the Chinaman to catch fish. The
cormorant Is a very intelligent bird and Is
easily domesticated. They readily lay when
captured and their eggs are Matched out by
chickens. When a Chinese fisherman has
half a dozen or more OF these birds he begins
while they are still young to teach them to
obey his commands and to come to him when
they are called. He next allows them their
freedom In the water. where they soon develop
their natural inclination to dive in search Of
fish. But as the birds invariably bolt the fish
which they catch. a metal ring is fastened
snugly around their necks and this prevents
them swallowing.
The fisherman takes his birds out on a raft
to some favorable fishing ground and puts
them overheard. They. begin diving. In turns
for fish. AS soon as a fish is secured the cor
morant comes to the surface to swallow 1t. but
Is prevented, from doing SO by the ring around
by the fisherman. who robs it Of it's prey. and
then ioosens the ring and rewards the bird
iastens the ring about the neck Of the cor
morant and the whole. operation is repeated
again and again. until the bird becomes tired
"a "a III "AhNi ~ buN oNSI-
board. Some Of these cormorants are so per-
fectly trained that they will catch and deliver
fish without being restrained by the ring. and
l have seen one bird bring to the, surface as
many as twenty fish. all Of which weighed
from a quarter to one and a half pounds.
The Chinese. who have successfully trained
the cormorant and the otter to fish for them.
have also taken the Iemora in hand. with
the happiest results.
quainted VIII iris pseSIisr Ash; which Is
sucker. The distinguishing characteristic OF
this fish lie. ~lazlness. Unwilling to exert itself
overmuch in the pursuit Of food, 1t has devel-
exactly Ike the corrugated sole OF a tennis
shoe. and as artificial In appearance as II made
and fitted by the hand OF man.
when the sucker finds itself In the vicinity
OF any large floating, body. such as a ship. n
hood seems TO promise an abundance OF food.
Il attaches itself firmly thereto by means Of
this curious contrivance. which permits IL to
eat. breathe, and perform all necessary func-
tons while being carried about. without any
tach itself instantapeously, and holds 80 firm
ly that a direct backward pull oannotd islodge
II. without injury to. the fish.
Several good-sized specimens OF the fish hav-
iron rings to their tails. to which, he attaches
long. slender. but very stout lines. Thus
equipped. the fisherman sets out. and when a
Dasking turtle L. seer. two or three OF the suck
ers are put overheard. Should they turn and
stick. to the bottom Of the fishing raft, they are
with the inevitable bamboo. and started on the
search again. At last they attach themselves
to the supine turtle. Then the fisherman
hauls In the lines. against which, gentle sua-
Once on board the raft the useful remora is
detached, and Is at once ready for use again,