Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-01-22
THE ISLAND OF YEZO
RICE FIELDS, TEA PLANTATIONS, SILK
WORN CULTURE AND THE
LACQUER TREE.
DR.. Edwords Writes Also Of Hokodate. the
Chief Port Of the Island, the Sea Fowl
Seen Here, the Strange Fish OF
the Bay and Other Interest.
ing Sights.

ing SlgntS.
Hokodate, Japan, Jan. II: l have
Yezo. Our route lay through rice
fields and tea plantations where we
saw young girls gathering tea leaves
and laying them on mats to dry. At
Fukushimi we were in the center of
the country where silk culture is the
prominent feature of industry. There
| is big trade there in raw silk and
silkworm eggs. This industry is
peculiarly suited to women as ii re-
quires great care and delicacy Of
touch. Silk worms thrive wherever
| the mulberry tree grows. There are
many growers of these trees along the
road, and / saw many women and
girls sitting in front of houses strip
ping leaves and reeling silk, while
white and yellow cocoons were lying
on mats near by. Hatching of the
eggs is delicate and laborious
process. requiring constant attention,
day and night for three weeks.
The lacquer tree, from which varnish
is made, producing both an oil and q
wax, grows abundantly in this region
as does the camphOr tree. This is an
evergreen. belonging to the laurel
family, having glossy leaves and
bearing clusters of yellow flowers
which are succeeded by punches Of
small fruit. Camphor gum is obtain
ed by cutting the wood into small
chips. which are stepped in water, or
exposed to steam ia rude wooden
still, protected from fire by coating
Of clay. until the camphor is extracted
and the gum formed.
Hokodate is the chief port of the
| island of Yezo, and is one of the two
ports first opposed to foreign COM
things here that came to my notice
was a group Of Amos. the original
race which inhabited Japan. They
are most peculiar people, being
semi-savage. They are covered with
| hair from head TO foot, and are of
very short stature. but are heavy set
and exceedingly strong. Their relig-
ion, manners and customs are distinct
and entirely different from those of
the Japanese.
Myriads of strange species of sea
fowl inhabit the rocks of this island,
and was much attracted by species
of fish hawk which lord it over the
rest of the birds. 1t watches the
other birds until they hatch and espec-
tally fine fish and then swoops down
with shrill cry that causes the bird
to drop the fish, and the hawk catches
it before it reaches the water.
In the bay is to be found one of the
strangest fish of the ocean. 1t is
what is known as the fishing fish.
This fish makes its living by fishing,
and does it with rod. line and bait.
The native name of the fish is the
hiluiha. 1t is beautifully colored, its
body being of that rare china blue
with gold bands crossing the body at
regular intervals. The fish, which is
about fourteen inches long. is shaped
something like the common catfish,
or horned pout. Sticking out from
the top of it's head is long, flexible
wand. or horn. from four to six feet
in length This is the same substance
as the horns of cat fish, elastic, flex-
ible, homeless flesh. and it tapers to
IA fine end 20 the thickness of a fishing
| cord At the end of this line, which
droops over in the water. is small.
red button of flesh. making a living
bait. This blue and gold fishi lg fish
hides his brilliant body in shadow
and bangles his bait over shoal
where little fish disport them selves.
These dart up and sieZe the red flesh.
and as soon as the bait is swallowed
the fishing fish curls up his line and
whips the victim into his mouth.
| This is continued until his hunger is
satisfied or the ground is worked ont.
| This fish is without fear of other
| fish, and sWlms about among sharks
which infes these waters as il il
were in no danger. When captured
and taken in the hand it gives
slight electric shock. not sufficient TO
cause pain or injury. but sufficient to
make itself felt It is believed by
the natives that this shock is applied
through the fishing apparatus to the
| little fish. and also to larger fish
when they attempt to touch it. When
taken from the water but one shock is
given, as tile fish dies quickly when
In the air. and after death its brilliant
hues fade and become dull.
This haTbor abounds in many kinds
of wonderful fish and have described
the one that seems TO me TO be the
queerest of them all III one were TO
attempt to tell of all the strange
things he sees he could never stop
writing. Clarence K. Edwords.