The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-05
JAPANESE FISH
IN STRANGE WAY
English Prince Initiated
Into Unique Methods
Of the Orient

TOXIC, May 4,--On a moonloss
night, illuminated only by blazing
torches, Edward. Prince OF Wales,
win be taken for trip along the
river Nigara to witness tho strange
cormorant fishing industry while
on his visit TO Japan as guest of
tho imperial government.
The curious method of catching
fish with birds instead OF hook and
line has existed In Japan from time
fmmemorial. Twcnty-eight men.
four boats and 8! birds constitrte
n working unit of these picturesque
fishing fleets to be seen In many
sections of Japan, but particularly
along the Nigara river.
The cormorants are trained when
quite young and will continue to
work for 10 and even 20 years.
when we'll trained and properly
handled. each bird will average
about $50 fish an hour.
The master fisherman. dlstin-
Eulshed by o peculiar hat. stands in
the bow handling no fewer than ~
birds with remarkable skin. An
other fisherman. with four birds, IL
stationed anidships. a third mem-
Der OF the crew is stationed between
the two, armed with n piece OF bam-
boo which he strikes to keep tho
birds at their work. at the same
time encouraging, them by shouts
and cries.
Each cormorant has n ring OF
metal or bone around the base o'
its neck permitting It to swallow
the smaller fish as food but Of
fectively stopping those of market
able size from passing through.
Bird In Under Coatrol.
Round tho body OF the bird I
n cord. to which Is attached in tn,
middle of the back n short strip o
stiff whalebone. with which to low
er tho bird into the water or III
II out again and thin rein q
spruce fiber. IL feet long.
The master lowers his ~ bird
into the stream and holds the reir
in his left hand, manipulating then
with his right as occasion require
The second fisherman does the sam
with his four birds while the thir
man begins his yoileys OF noise.
The birds start diving and duel
ing with wonderful swittneH .
the fish come swimming towar
the blaze OF light. The master he
n busy time handling his
strings TO prevent them tanglin
while the birds are dashing hith'
and thither.
When one OF the birds becom,
engorged, II swims about In n foo
ish, helpless way, with it's head an
swollen neck erect and the mast,
hauls II In, lie forces its bill ops
with his LETT hand, still holding ii
other lines, and squeczeS out tl
fish with his right. after which i
returns the bird to it's work Th
is all done with such admirable deN
tcrity and qulclness that the otht
birds have not had time TO heCOW
entangled ana Immediately III
whole team Is again perfectly
hand.
Care ot CormOrants,
Each bird has its own numb,
and knows Il, No. or Tchl."
the doyen OF the corps, the senior
years as well as rank aud his con
Ianions according TO their age con
after him In numerical order. lei
IL the last TO be put into the wat
and the first to be taken out, Il
first to be fed and the last to ent
the baskets when the work is owe
lChi has the post Of honor in q
ewes OF the boat. lie Ms a sOlom
grizZlcd old fellow, with pompol
air. The others are placed alte
natively ON oithor side of the gu
vale according TO their rank al
should the lawful order of prec
deuce at any time be violated,
terrific rumpus occurs amcug theI
After the fishing Is over, as ca,
Cormorant 10 taken out OF the wat
tho master can tell by its woig
whether It has lad enough 70 @
during the hunt and IL not, the hi
is fed with tho inferior fish IN
Ia