The Opelousas courier., 1900-04-21
CHINESE FISH CATCHING,
METHODS USED THAT SHOW MUCH
PAlNsTAKINc cLEvERNEss.

Although Fish Are Pound wherever
Their IL Water, the supply Ia Kept
stocked Constantly 500 Use Of Birds in
FishtRE on the Large Rivers.
The lakes, rivers and harbors OF
China swarm with fish. Every stag
nant pool contains them, and the rice
fields, while flooded during the win
ter, are sometimes used as fishing
grounds. In spite of this abundant
natural supply, the art Of p~isciculture
has been studied and is well under
stood. Every spring men trundle
through all the provinces wheelbar-
rows laden with barrels of pawn.
and for q few ''cash'' enough of this
substance to stock a large pond can
be bought. When poured out it looks
like SO much mud, no sign of life be-
ing perceptible. About a fortnight
after it is thrown into the water the
young fish begin to appear. At first
these are fed twice q day with chopped
vegetables, but after q few days they
must forage for themselves. In some
parts of the empire it is customary to
Put the spawn into egg shells, which,
after being carefully closed, are placed
under sitting hens. After a few days
the shells are broken and the spawn
is transferred to vessels containing
water we'll warmed by the sun.
Treated in this way it matches far
moro rapidly than if the former
method is pursued.
Fishing in China is always looked
upon from a strictly practical point of
view, and although the hook and line
are used occasionally, catching by
their aid is too slow a process to be
popular. Enormous quantities of fish
are taken in nets baited with white of
egg on the mesheS, to hasten which
process the fishermen often dive an
der water, and by clapping together
boards, make a noise which frighteas
their prey into the nets. Many of
these men get very expert in catching
with their toes fish which try to es-
cape by hiding in the mud.
Next in favor to nets rank 'tdecoy
boats" low, narrow. craft, which
anchor in the rivers and harbors. On
still, moonlight nights each boat has
fastened at the stern a board painted
white. When the moon shines on
these boards the fish leap out on them
aud are then easily secured. On dark
nights bright lights. placed close to
the water, replace the boards, ana
when thus equipped the feet becomes
extremely picturesque.
Fish are also captured with spears,
scraped up by dredges and caught by
birds. The cormorant, used for this
purpose, has q short neck, q long,
slightly hooked beak, and ia about
the size of our ordinary domestic duck.
These birds are never handsome, but
after o days fishing, when their
feathers are rufied, they have q dis
reputable, having -allnight
air, which makes them look particu-
larry ugly. The custom of the fisher
man is to start off early in the morn
ing on RATS or in boats, having on
board from twelve to fifteen m
ants, sill of which have been kept fast
ing for at least d day. Before the
birds begin work each one has slipped
round its neck an iron ring, large
enough to permit free breathing but
too small to allow the feathered fisher
man to swallow his capture. Each man
allows four or five birds to dive at
once, although hundreds of them r
often in the water together. All the
older ones know their own master and
take. their catches Immediately to his
boat. Until fully trained, each cor
morant has attached to the ring .
cord which is pulled if the bird re-
mains too long under water or shows
q disposition 10 wander about and
neglect business. A little bamboo
sschoW-chow, q beating with a thin
bamboo, is also sometimes admins
tered to lazy pupils.
After one set of cormorant- has
dived a number Of times d rest lis
slowed. Their neck rings are taken
uff and they are allowed TO eat o few
fsh while q fresh lot of birds is at
work. These fishers seldom fail to
cstch 6sh when they dive, and are
capable Of bringing up . weight equal
ing their own. If one seizes too heavy
dsh occasionally q friend viii goto
bis assistance and help him carry it
aboard, but it is more common to, see
weak birds robbed by their stronger
H~eanpanions. When numbers of cor
moFants are at work together, ami
mated and interesting as is the scene.
The deafening noise made by the birds
Is 3 SERIOUS drawback to its enjoy
ment. On the rivers, towards even
Ing, q long line of boats may be een
returning home. the cormorants
perched in nearly equal numbers on
both sides. It is said their own in
stinct teaches them thus to preserve
she balance of the craft.
The Chinese boast of being able to
YET i different kind OF fish every day Of
The year, but they are not over partic-
ulaF, and except one particularly re-
puIsive species of frog, they are will
ling to devour anything the waters
contain. This is true OF least of the
aaasses. Celestial epicures, however,
aespise the commoner sorts of fish.
~ them the species esteemed are the
sole, the .'sam-li'' double first consin
q our shadl, the young shark and the
sturgeon. The latter fish is rare in
south China, but great numbers are
taken ii the Yangste river, fish weigh
ing 1000 pounds or more being by