The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-01
THE LONE FISHERMAN.
The Worlds Single Sportsman Who
Catches Fish with Trained Birds.


Catches Fish with Trained Birds.
From the London Mail.
There are quite number of fascin-
ating sports, says LIE Sport Univer-
sal fllustre of Paris, which are en-
tirely neglected because 1t Is assumed
that their practice is difficult from the
fact that their exponents are few.
For instance, in France there are
not more than half a dozen sportsmen
who practice hawking, though the
training of the goshawk and the SPAR
rowhawk to catch rabbits, hares, part
ridges and pheasants is an easy and in
expensive pastime.
It is the same with cormorant fish
ing, the subject of the present article.
Thought practiced twenty years ago
with considerable success by two or
three sportsmen, 1t Is now confined to
NJ. Felix Bourguignon and two cormor-
ants belonging to the Jardin d'Acclma-
tation, Paris. 1t is claimed that NJ.
Bourguignon is the only man in the
world who regularly follows cormorant
fishing as sport.
These two birds are now expert fish
ers, and our contemporary thus de-
scribes the process Of training adopted
by NJ. Bourguignon:
First of all. the long feathers of
the left wing are cut to prevent the
unframed birds lacerating the face OF
the trainer. Then to each foot is at
tached q leather thong. by means of
which the bird can be conveniently
held without risk. For two or three
days each bird is carefully fed by hand
at regular intervals, and at the end
| Of this time complete docility Is OBJ
tained. and the birds, having become
accustomed to their master, follow him
about like a couple of affectionate
| poodles.
'"This attained, the actual fishing
| is commenced. A number of live fish
| are placed in a tank. and the cormo-
rant, having had a collar adjusted to
his neck sufficiently tight to prevent
| him swallowing the fish, is allowed to
plunge for his prey. In few seconds
| he reappears with a fish partly swal-
lowed. He is then easily persuaded to
perch upon his masters finger, and
placed on the ground, 1t is an easy
matter to oblige him to disgorge his
catch, which is Immediately put out
of sight, the cormorant being rewarded
by small piece of fish or other suit
able food.
1.-The sport. according to an eye wit
ness, is of a most interesting, and
even fascinating character, especially
If the cormorant pits himself against
a good sized fish. Some most exciting
struggles are witnessed. and the move
| ments and manoeuvres of the cormo-
rant are of marvellous rapidity and
| grace"
Cormorant fishing is largely practiced
| in China and Japan as business. In
| these countries it is generally carried
out at night time, and in boats. Each
| fisherman takes, as rule. five cormo-
rants, and to the prov of the boat is
attached a brilliant light. which at
tracts the fish, of which enormous
numbers are caught by the birds.
| These Chinese amt Japanese fisher
men attain very great skill in the man.
| ipulation of the birds. Nothing Is more
| surprising than to see the way In
which they will handle four or five cor"
morants, all retained by strings. and
send them into the water at the same
| time.
The juggle with the strings-whicl
are held between the fingers of the
left hand-while the birds plunge in all
directions. is matter requiring the
| praa test deyterity