Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-06-12
TRIP TO THE ORIENT
Clarence e. Edwords Touring the
Eastern Countries.
III IS CUR SpE CIk CORRESPONDENT
INTERESTINGLY WRITTEN IN WEEK
LY LETTERS, WHICH WILL Ap.
PEAR IN THE RECORDER.

Manila, P. l., January l5.-Ma-
rine fishes constitute one OF the
chief food supplies of the Philip
pines, and have been much inter-
ested in the various modes OF
catching them. | was along the
shore yesterday, and my attention
was attracted to a lot of bamboo
sticks standing out of the water. |
discovered that they formed fish
trap where large numbers OF the
fnny tribe were taken. The method
most extensively used for taking
fish on this coast is by the con-
struction of pens or corrals, which
are to be seen in large numbers
wherever the water is shallow. The
sides of these pens are constructed
with pieces of split bamboo, bound
together with rattan in such a way
that long pieces can be rolled up
and transported from place to
place. When it is desired to con-
struct a corral at any given point
stakes are driven into the bottom
and the siding is then unralled and
| fastened to them. The pens are
sometimes so placed that they sur
round afavorite feeding place OF
fish, and are immersed at high wa
ter. The fish come into feed,
swimming over the top at high
tide, and ebb leaves them imprls-
oned.
More commonly, however, the
top stands above the water at all
times. A long line of close bamboo
fence leads from near the shore to
the corral, which has a narrow
opening, and the fish follow this
fence into the corral, and then are
too stupid to find their way out OF
the narrow opening, before the fall
of the tide renders it impossible for
them to reach it. Frequently, a
narrow lane leads out of the main
part of the corral to deep water,
where it ends in o circular pond
The opening from the lane into the
pond is surrounded by sharp point
ed bamboo, directed into the latter
so that when the fish have once en-
tered it they cannot escape. Then
tendency to run toward deep water
as the tide falls, results in imprlson
ing the whole catch here, and they
are either speared or taken ou
with a dip net. Very large catches
are frequently made. The fish arr
sold fresh, if possible, but if there
are too many for the market, the.
are split and sun-dried, in which
form they find ready market.
Another method much in vogue
especially near Malabon, is the sus
pending of large dip nets iron
masts erected on boats or bamboo
RATS, by means of a contrlvanc
not unlike the old fashioned wei
sweep, so that they can quickly b
lowered or raised. In the Ianol
channel, and various other parts O
the archipelago, where condition
are suitable, deep water traps ar
used; which are sometimes sunk a
deep as b,2O0 feet. These trap
are loosely made baskets, at ON
of which is an opening protected b
sharp-pointed bamboo. The ira
: is baited with meat, and a tls
: once entering cannot escape. Tn
, line by which these traps are low
cred is simply a series of long piece
of split rattan. A load of stones
necessary to sink them, and thes
+ are so adjusted that a jerk of tn
. line loosens them before the ira
is hauled up.
, Spearing is sometimes resorted t
: in sheltered bays, torches of drle
palm leaves being'used to attrac
: the fish. There is peculiar specie
! of mud fish known throughout tn
islands; called the dalag. This fis
is found in the rice paddles in larg
| numbers. and the natives cate
: them with peculiar long baskets
which they dash down into the wa
,, ter where they sec the vegetatlo
roov;ro The fish are so 1lumerou
that many are caught by tn
s;mnla manner. The natives bt
Cu,,op,ont NJ n