The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-22
HoWTHE cHlNAMAN FISHES.
He Trains CORniorants ana Mhlkei
Suckers Do 1t For Him.

He Traias CoRniorants and Makes
Suckers Do 1t 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 oormorant is trained by the China
man to catch fish. The cormorant Is
very intelligent bird and is easily domes-
ticated. 1t readily lays when captured,
and its eggs are batched out by chick
ems. When Chinese fisherman has half
dozen or more Of these birds, he begins
while they arc still young to teach them
toNobey 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,
metal ring is fastened snugly around
their necks, and this prevents them swal-
lowing.
"The fisherman takes his birds out on
raft to some favorable fishing ground and
puts them overheard. They begin diving
In turns for fish As soon as fish is Sc
to swallow it, but is prevented from doing
SO by the ring around his neck. The bird
10 then called to the float by the fisher
man, who robs 1t Of Its prey and then
loosens the ring and rewards the bird
with small piece of fish. The fisherman
refastcns the ring about the neck of the
cormorant, and the whole operation is re-
peated again and again, until the bird be-
comes tired Of diving, when another cor
morant is put overheard. Some Of the
cormorants are go perfectly trained that
they will catch and deliver fish without
being restrained by the ring, and have
seen one bird bring to the surface as many
as 90 fish, all of which weighed from q
quarter to IN pounds.
1.-THE Chinese, who have successfully
trained the oormorant and the otter to fish
for them, have also taken the relnora in
hand, with the happisst results.
Most voyagers in tropical seas are ao-
quainted with this peculiar fish, which is
known generally by the trivial name Of
the sucker. The distinguishing charao-
teristic Of this fish is laziness. Unwilling
to exert itself overmuch in the pursuit Of
food, 1t has developed an arrangement on
the back Of Its head exactly like the cor
rugated sole Of tennis shoe, and as arti-
fetal in appearance az if made and fitted
by the hand Of man.
"When the sucker finds itself In the
vicinity Of any large floating body, such
as ship, shark or a piece Of hotsaln,
whose neighborhood seems to promise an
abundance Of food, it attaches itself firm
ly thereto by means of this curious con-
trivance which permits 1t to cat, breathe
and perform oil necessary functions while
being carried about without any eIertion
on its part 1t can attach and detach itself
instantaneously and holds so firmly that
a direct backward pull cannot dislodge it
without injury to the fish.
Several good sized specimens of the
fish having been caught, the Chinese fish,
erman fits small iron rings to their tails,
to which he attaches long, slender, but
very stout lines. Thus equipped the fish
erlnan sets out, and when basking turtle
Is seen two or three of tho suckers are put
overheard.
"Should they turn and stick to the bot
tom Of the fishing raft they are carefully
detached by being pushed forward with
the inevitable harpoon and started on the
search again. At last they attach them
selves to the supine TURTLE Then the fish
erman hauls In the lines, against which |
gentle suasion the hapless chelon struggles
in vain. Once on board the raft the USE
full remora is detached and is at once ready |
for uso again. "-Washington Star.