Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-02-13
FOOD SUPPLIES in
THE PHILIPPINES
&C. e. Edwarde in Steele Ozone

much interested in the various modes
of catching them. / was along shore
the other day and my attention was
attracted to a lot of bamboo sticks
standing out of the water. i discov'
cred that they formed a fish trar
where large numbers of the tinny
tribe were taken. The method most
extensively used for taking fish on
this coast is by the construction Of
pens of 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 of rattan in
such a way that long pieces can be
rolled up and transported from place
to place. When it is desired to con-
stakes are driven into the bottom and
the siding is then unrolled and fast
ened to them. The pens are some
times so placed that they surround
a favorite feeding place for fish, and
are immersed to high water. The
fish come in to feed. swimming over
the tops at high tide, and ebb leaves
them imprisoned.
More commonly, however, the top
stands above the water at all times.
A long line Of close bamboo fen,e
leads from near the shore to the
corral which has narrow opening
and the fish follow this fence into
the corral and then they are too
stupid to find their way out of the
narrow opening, before the fall OF
the tide renders 1T impossible fer
them to reach it.
Frequently a narrow lane leads
out of the main part of the corral
to deep water, where it ends in a
circular pond. The opening of the
lane to the pond is surrounded by
sharp pointed bamboo, directed into
the latter, so that when the fish have
once entered it they cannot escape.
Their tendency to run towards deep
water as the tide falls results in
imprisoning the whole catch here
and they are either speared or TAX
en- out with a deep net. Very large
catches are frequently made. The
fish are sold fresh, if possible, but
if there are too many for the mark
ct they 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 dipnets from masts
erected on boats or bamboo RATS,
by means of continuance not un-
Like the old fashioned we'll sweep
so that they can quickly be lowered
or raised. In the Tanon channel,
and various other parts Of the arch
ipelago, where conditions are suita.
BILE, deep water traps are used, which
are sometimes sunk as deep as twelve
hundred feet. These traps are loose
ly made baskets, at one end of which
is an opening protected by sharp
pointed bamboo. The trap is baited
with meat, and fish once entering
cannot escape. The line by which
these traps are lowered is simply a
series of loose pieces Of split rattan
A load OF stones is necessary to sink
trap and these are SO adjusted that
a jerk of the line loosens them be.
fore the trap is hauled up
Spearing is sometimes resorted to
in sheltered bays, torches of dried
palm leaves being used to attract
the fish. There is a peculiar species
of mud fish known throughout the
islands, called the dalag. The fish
Is found in the rice paddles in large
numbers and the natives catch them
with peculiar long baskets which
dash down into the water where they
see the vegetation moving, The fish
are so numerous that many are
caught by this simple manner. The
natives believe that this fish bur-
rows in the mud and remains Their.
when the waters go down, to the
next flooding time, but those who
studied the fish are of the opinion
that the fish makes it's way with the
reced1ng water. and is capable of
working through the shallowest wa
ter and sometimes even over bare
ground, something like the carp doe.
in American waters.
Among the sea lsh along here are
a number Of poisonous fish. the eat
ing Of which occasions severe illness
and sometimes death. The natives
have learned to-. distinguish these
fish, but many Americans who came
over since the war, have been pois-
oned by eating them, The fish a.
round the islands are of so many var
/ ties that they have not vet been
classified. It is said that there are
more varieties here than anywhere
else in the world. It is here that
the much priced shark fins, which
Chinese pay such big prices for are
obtained.
The natives are attempted to at
tack the dangerous shark by the high
prices which the Chinese pay for
these delicacies. The fms and tails
of these sharks are Of a peculiar gel.
atinous character, which makes them
priced for soup.