Arizona silver belt., 1901-06-06
CHINESE SHRlMPERS.
odt Occupation Which Supports a Cali.
 fornis Colony.

"Shrimps, shrimps.' is a familiar cry in San Francisco, itinerant traders hav- inr stands where these pink, many leored creatures are sold as peanuts are retailed elsewhere. The shrimp meT- chants are generally Portuguese or Italians. who by temptingly displaying their ware, have created a demand for The sucvulrnt murSels,
 The capture of the Shrimps consti- tuteS an important industry around San Francisco, and an investigation made bN d curious American SuE.r time ago showed that the fisheries were in the hands Uf the IhinrSe, who were engaged in supplying the Canton and other Chi uesc markets with shrhnps
 The Chinese shrimpcrs, or shrimp dancers. as they are called, constitute colony by themselves. and in the main represent as low a type of aliens as can be found on American shores One might sail around the harhor of San Francisco for day and not see them, as their camps are concealed in certain uut-ot-the-way hooks for reasons test known to themselves, Al cue point where the hills dip down to the sea settlement was found Here were a number of. Shantics of the poorest. de- scription, and leading ont rom the beach several small wharveS tu which were anchored nondescript fishing boats. Leading up from the Shanties were two squares of para!lclograms, about 90 by 300 feet, which were per fectly distinct from the rest of the soil and a delicate pink, color, On this strange flooring were score of China men, gravcly hopping about in what was apparently a dance. They held their arms close 10 their sides; hopping now on one foot, again leaping into the air: moving forward in a direct line: some following tkc sides, others cross ing; in all presenting to the observers a ludicrous appeafynCe. 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 hin, 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 shellsi 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 lhC oilskins of the r-nrrmyn, from whi.h a peculiar odor rose and mingled with hat of stale opium and old fish. In the corner of ono of the shanties was a pagan temple, with mc attempt at the splcndors one sees in san Francisco, An odor of punk filled the air and a Chinaman was rear ranging the sandal sticks. while another prOStrulcd himself before the shrine. This was the abode of the hshCrman's god. and before they went out to break the American law the shrimpers in roked this god to bring them good luck.
 In taking shrimps the fishermen use various ucts-SturgeOn travis. fvke nets, bag nets and others of fine mesh. The bag net is about 40 feet Ioug-a huge cone with an opening 20 feet wide. grading down tO point. Near the mouth is a two-iuch mesh. following this for ten or twelve feet it is reduced 10 one inch. while the bag has mesh of but Jne-quarter to half an inch. These traps are set between poles on the flats and cover the bottom. catching every shrimp and fish that appears The nets are set mainly al night, often being hauled between midnight and sunrise The shrimps are brought in in large numbers, rolled in baskets and the fol lowing morning placed in yats of boil ing water. In ten minutes they have assumed the delicate shrimp color lhey are then taken out and placed on The level cleared spots and spread with rooms. Here they bake or dry for five .r SIX days, after which the men with he wooden shoes begin what has been referred [" Us the shrimp dance. The shoes are so heavy that the wearers cannot move with much agility. So a cu- rous shuilic and jumping up and down E me result--a dance which, if seen.
 "Ight find place on the melodramatic -Jugc
 N ''J''t Oi lit shrimp dance. aS Las been described, is to pulverize the 'rIs|ceauS; and pestlcs and hammers "rr .. 1sed to loosen the meat. From irIc lh.' 20 to the basket shakers. who ." T".iHE the crushed shrinpS in bas. Egis. quart at time. disIodoe them if"in il- ,ahlls. Some use a machine "'l i W. N"wSout the shells, the meat ""d the hc!lS being shipped to China. I-' sh.i Us are used as fertilizer about lea plants. The Chinese in China de. end entirely on the San Francisco mar. te' Tor them, and dec,lde or so aoo me me amount of the yearly shipment was ''',6to pounds of shrimp meat. yalued "l $'',oao, and nearly I,O0OOoO pounds "j shells, valued at about $40, ,OnO-pbil. adelphia Press.
 Value of Moral Principle.