The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-07-15
SHRIMP DANCERS
An Odd Industry That supports 4
Chinese Colony Near San
Francisco.


''Shrimps, shrimps!" is familiar or,
I'm San Francisco, itinerant traders hav-
ing stands where these pink, many
legged creatures are sold as peanuts are
retailed elsewhere. The shrimp mer-
chants are generally Portuguese or
Italians, who by temptingly displaying
their wares have created a demand for
the succulent morsels.
The capture of the shrimps consti-
tutes an important industry around San
Francisco, and an investigation made
by curious American some time ago
showed that the fisheries were in the
hands of the Chinese, who were engaged
in supplying the Canton and other Chi
nese markets with shrimps.
The Chinese shrimpers, or shrimp
dancers, as they are called, constitute
u colony by themselves, and in the
main represent as low type of aliens
as can be found ON American shores.
One might sail around the harbor of
San Francisco for daysand not see them,
as their camps are concealed in certain
out-of-the-way hooks for reasons best
known to themselves. At one point
where the hills dip down to the sea a
settlement was found. Here were q
number of shanties of the poorest de-
scription, and leading out from the
beach several small wharves to which
were anchored nondescript fishing
boats. Leading up from the shanties
were two squares of parallelograms,
about 80 by 300 feet, which were per-
fectly distinct from the rest of the soil
and delicate pink color. On this
strange flooring were score of China
men, gravely hopping about in what
was apparently n dance. They held
their arms close to their sides; hopping
now on one foot, again leaping into the
air; moving forward in direct line;
some following the sides, others cross
ing; in all presenting to the observers
ludicrous appearance. Yet the con-
trast of the blue blouses of the dancers
and the delicate pink of the floor was
not inartistic.
Coming out of the bush and walking
down the hill, the ground was found to
be covered with pink shrimps. There
were hundreds of them drying in the
sun, while with them were many young
fishes.
The dancers were stamping on the
shrimps to crush the shells. They did
not resent the visit in words, but their
looks suggested that the visitors were
not welcome. The shanties were squalid
in the extreme, containing rude hunks
about which were hung the oilskins of
the fishermen, from which peculiar
odor rose and mingled with that of stale
opium and old fish. In the corner of
one of the shanties was pagan temple,
with some attempt at the splendors one
sees In San Francisco. An odor of punk
filled the air, and Chinaman was rear
ranging the sandal sticks, while another
Frustrated himself before the shrine.
This was the abode of the fisherman's
god, and before they went out to break
the American law the shrimpers in
voked this god to bring them good luck.
In taking shrimps the fishermen use
various nets-sturgeon travis, fyke
nets, bag nets and others of fine mesh.
The bag net is about 40 feet long-a
huge cone with an opening 20 feet wide.
grading down to n point. Near the
mouth is two-inch mesh; following
tins for ten or twelve feet it is reduced
TO one inch, while the bag has mesh of
out one-quarter to half an inch. These
traps are set between poles on the fats
and cover the bottom, catching every
shrimp and fish that appears. The nets
are set mainly at night, often being
hauied between midnight and sunrise.
Inc shrimps are brought in in larce
numbers, rolled in baskets and the fol-
lowing morning placed in watts of boil
ing water. In ten minutes they have
assumed the delicate shrimp color
They are then taken out and placed ON
the level cleared spots and spread with
prooms. Here they bake or dry for five
or SIX days, after which the men with
the wooden shoes begin what has been
referred to as the shrimp dance. The
Shoes are so heavy that the wearers
cannot move with much agility, so a Gu
nous shuttle and jumping up and down
is the result-a dance which. if seen.
might find place on the melodramatie
stage.
The object of the shrimp dance. as
has been described, is to pulverize the
and pestles and hammers
are also used to loosen the meat. From
here they go to the basket shakers. who
oy placing the crushed shrimps in bas-
kets' a quart at.a time, dislodge them
from the shells. Some use a machine
which winnows out the shells, the meat
and the shells being shipped to China:
the shells are used as fertilizer about
tea plants. The Chinese in China de-
pend entirely on the San Francisco mar
ket for them, and decade or so apo
the amount OF the yearly shipment was
dc 90 IL !