The Dickinson press., 1905-03-04
DUCKS IN CHINA.

The Way They Are Raised and How
They Are Got to Market.
What would an American duck farm
er think of swimming his flock to mar
ket? That is the regular method en-
ployed by the poultrymen who live
along the great waterways of China.
The Chinese are very fond of duck.
Nearly every farmer keeps a few for
his own use, but along the rivers rails
ing them for market is profitable
business.
In American ducks raised for market
have very little water In which to
swim and play. The poultrymen do
not think it is good for them to have
much exercise. It hardens their mus
cles and makes their flesh tough and
not so good to eat.
So instead of swimming all day In
ponds or lakes or streams the ducks are
kept shut up in small pens, where they
have no room to waddle about and can
only stand still and eat and grow fat
Then, when they are In prime condi-
tion, they are killed and dressed and
shipped to market in barrels, and their
feathers make an additional source Of
income to the poultryman.
The Chinaman, however, is quite con-
tent to let his ducks have as much ex-
ercise as they like, and they get great
deal hunting for their food, of which
they receive only small supplies from
the poultryman.
One result is that the Chinese duck
10 a good, strong swimmer, and that is
fortunate circumstance for the poul-
tryman when 1t comes time to 60 to
market.
He does not live on railroad. If he
did, he would not be likely to use 1t,
for to him 1t is a newfangled device for
the spread Of evil. He knows, too, a
more economical method than putting
his ducks in crates and paying freight
on one Of the river boats. Time does
not mean much to him, and he can af-
ford to spend few days, II necessary,
in going to market. ...
When he picks out the ducks he
means to sell, the Chinese farmer ties
the leg of one to that of another with
stout cord and continues the process
until the whole lot is bound together.
Sometimes there are hundreds thus
fastened in one flock.
1t is not easy to make such a flock
swim together or follow the direction
desired. The farmer takes his boat
and starts to drive them, sculling be-
hind or drifting on the current and
beating the water with long bamboo
poles to make them swim along and go
the right way. II the farmer has
large family and two or three boats,
so that his sons can help, he can usual
ly manage to get his ducks to market
without outside aid, but If he is not so
fortunate he will join with other duck
raisers and herd the focks in combina-
ton.
Thus it not infrequently happens that
thousands Of ducks will be swimming
along down the Yangtse, apparently in
one flock, with dozen or more sam
pans drifting behind them, filled with
men; women and boys, thrashing the
water with bamboos to hurry on the
ducks.
It is hard enough to make flock Of
hungry, foolish ducks swim on about
their business when there is plenty of
room and no Interference, but that sell
dom happens on a Chinese river. Usual
ly these, streams swarm with clumsy,
unwieldy junks, and on the Yangtse'
there ID q great deal OF steamer traffic.
The friendly, 1unkmen will almost al
ways help the duck herders to keep the
docks clear Of the boats BY heating the
water With banboos; but steamers
have neither time nor inclination FOR
such bother, and 50 1t sometimes hap
pens that 4, dock is cut. Id two by .
steamer Then there Is q great, deal Of
trouble. and excited talk before the flock
can be RENTED and got peacefully on
it, way ssafh. -. ,.s..5 ss.:.s,
Sometimes also It happens that ducks
Of one nock get mxed up with those Of
another, and then there Is dreadful
tansle and snarl. But the patient Chi
ness get them separated into the proper
docks again at last, and all go cheer
fully together to market.-Youth's Com
panion.