Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-12-01
CHINESE SHRIMPERS.
3dd Occupation Which Supports a
California Colony.
rhs Aon1olIaAa Dance on the CrustA-
csans to Separate Them from
Their ShsllS-An Important
Indastr1.

ng stands where these pink, many
egged creatures are sold as peanuts are
-etailed elsewhere. The shrimp mer-
:hants are generally Portuguese or
Italians, who by tempiingly displaying
their wares have created a demand for
the s%ucculen; r~lOrsels-
The capture OF the shrimps consti-
tutes an iInportantindustry around San
Francisco, and an investigation made
BY \ curious American some time
showed that the fisheries were in the
hands of the Chinese,who were engaged
II supplying the Canton and other Chi
uese markets with sh=--:
The Chinese sh.mfCrs, or shrimp
iancers, as they are called. constitute
1 colony by themselves, and in the
main represent as low Il type of aliens
Is can be found on American shores.
One might sail around the harbor OF
san Francisco for mot see them.
as their camps 2re concealed in certain
out-of-the-way hooks for reasons best
inown 20 themselves. At one point
where the hills dip down TO the sea Z
settlement was found. Here were a
number OF shanties OF the poorest de
scription, and leading out from the
beach several small wharves 10 which
were anchored uondescript fishing
boats. Leading up from the shanries
we're two squares OF rarallcloCrams.
about % by 200 feet, which We're per
fectly distinct from TIE rest of the soil
and a delicate pink color. On this
strange flooring were a score Of China
men. gravely hopping about in wha;
was apparently 4 dance. They held
their arms close TO their sides: hopping
now on n foot. again leaping into the
air: moving forward in q direct line;
some following the sides. Others cross
ing; in all presenting 10 the observers
a ludicrous appearance. Yet the con-
trast OF the blue blouses OF the dancer.
and the delicate pink OF the floor was
not inartistic.
Coming out OF the bush and walking
down the hill. the ground wa. found 20
be covered with pink shrimp.. There
were hundreds of them drying in the
sun, while with them were many young
fishes.
Tie dancers were stamping on the
shrinps to crush the shells. They did
not resent the visit in words. but their
looks suggested that the visitors were
not welcome. The shaniies were sgualid
in the extreme. containing rude hunks
about which were hung the o!lskins of
the fishermen, from which a peculiar
odor rose and mingled with that OF stale
opium and old fish. In the corner Of
Il Of the shantics was & ;acan templ..
with some attempt AT the splcndors one
sees in San Francisco. An odor OF punk
filled the air, and q Chinamnn was rear
ranging h sandal sticEs.wh lille another
Frustrated himself before the shrir.
ms was the abode Of the Esherraau's
god, and before they went out TO ErraL
the American law the eHTi.rrers in
k his god 10 bring tLc.a o-od luck.
In taking shr;mps the .--.yf..n
various nets-sturgeon ,.a ;.lr
nets. bag nets and other ?. ....r.I.
b bag net is about : t--.-
huge cone with an opening -:.s.
grading down TO a point. Near IL.
is a twc-inch mesh: following
this for ten or twelve feet il is reduced
to one inch, while the bag hns mesb r.,
but one-quarter to half an inch These
traps are set between poles on the fats
ana cover the bottom. catching every
shrimp and feb that appears. The nets
are Set mainly AT night. often being
hauitd between midnight and sunrise.
ne shrimPs are brought in in LARGE
numbers. rolled in baskets and In. FOL
LOWING morning placed in vat. OF hs;I-
ing water. In ten minutes they hive
assumed the delicate .hrirap coJor
ihsF are then takec c-t :;.d placed mn
,he level cleared spots and spread with
ofooms. Here they bake or dry for five
or SIX days. after which the men with
the wooden shoes begin what ba, bean
referred TO rs the shrimD dane. ar
shoes are so heavy that the wearers
cannot move with much agility. so a
nous shuttle and jumping up and down
Is the result-n dance which. II seen.
"iiSht md place or the ~melodramntic
stage.
Inc object OF the shrimp dance. ns
ms been described, is to pulverizc the
'r"sthccaiIs and pcstlcs md hammer.
hre hiso used to loosen the meat. From
mere they 70 to the basket shakers. who.
ny placing the crushed shrirrps in bns'
kets, n quart nj n time. disIodyn thorn
from the shells. Some usc , ,,,oL;,a
"",cn "iinowS out the shells. the meat
NJ INC shells being shipped 10 China:
the shells n'e used AS "A fertilizer abou,
Yea pl'nts The Chinese in China dc.
penn chiiT"'y on the San Francisco mar
ket Tor them. and n decade or so ago
.he AMOUNT OF the yearly shipment WINS
'o':o1o pounds of shrimp meat, valued
Il. 10000. and nearly 100000 pound,
o. shells. valued at nbout 50 ,OOO.-PhII.
adelphia Press.
twenty-five hundred fathoms deep
the pressure Is 70 times that OF an EN-
CINE drawing q train.