Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-06
HOW THE CHJNAMAN FISHES.
He Trains COrMOrants aud Make
Suckers DO Ii For Him.

Speaking of the natural instinct
and extent to (which the faculties OF
birds may be developed" said an old
bird trainer to the writer recently,
perhaps one of the most interesting
examples of this is the way the cor.
mosant is trained by the Chinaman
to catch fish. The cormorant is a
very intelligent bird and is easily do
mesticated. They readily lay when
captured, AND their eggs are Matched
out by chickens. When Chinese
fisherman las 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.
"rhe 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 fish is secured the cor
morant comes to the surface ITO swal-
low it, but is prevented from doing so
by the ring around its neck. The
bird is then called to the float by the
fisherman, who robs 1t of its prey,
and then loosens the ring and re-
wards the bird with a small piece Of
fish The fisherman refastens the
ring about the neck of the cormarant
and the whole operation is repeated
again and again, until the bird be-
comes tired of diving, when another
cormorant is put overheard Some OF
these cormorants are so perfectly
trained that they will catch and de-
liver fish without being restrained by
the ring, and | have seen one bird
bring to the surface as many az
twenty fish, all Of which weighed
from quarter to 11a pounds.
"The Chinese, who have successful
ly trained the cormorant and the
OTTER to fish for them, have also taken
the remora in hand, with the happi-
est results,
"Most voyagers in tropical seas are
acquainted with this peculiar fish,
which is known generally by the tri-
vial name Of the sucker. The distin-
gushing characteristic of this fish is
laziness. Unwilling to exert itself |
overmnch in the pursuit of food, it
has developed an arrangement on the
back of its head exactly like the cor
rugated 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, shark, or a piece OF
folsom, whose neighborhood seems to
promise an abundance of food it at
taches itself firmly thereto by means
of this curious contrivancc, which
permits it to eat. breathe and per-
form all necessary functions while
being carried about withou, any ex-
eriion on its part. II can attach and
detach itself instantaneously, and
holds so firmly that direct back
ward pull can not dislodge il without
injury to the fish.
Several good-sized specimens OF
the fish having been caught the Chi
nese fisherman fits small iron rings
to their tails, to which he attaches
long, .lender, but very stout lines.
Thus equipped the fisherman sets
out. and when "a basking turtle is
seen two or three OF the suckers are
put overheard. Should they turn and
stick to the bottom OF the fishing
raft they are carefully detached by
being pushed forward with the inevi-
table 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 suasion the hap
ess chelon struggles in vain. Once
m board the raft the useful remora
s detached, and is at once ready for