Year: 1874

Fl8D.


M. de Thiersant, lately a French Con-
sui in China, has published in France
quite interesting work on pisciculture
and the mode of fishing in that country.
He states, among other facts, that over
$50 different fish exist in Chinese wa
ters, many of which are of species hith-
erto unknown to European naturalists.
Several varieties have for centuries been
selected as fit for food and cultivation,
and hence pisiculture or the ordinary
domestic raising of fish, and industry
here in its infancy is far from a novel
idea in the celestial empire. The author
presents vast number of interesting
details in his general topic, from among
which we select the following curious
ideas:


The cormorant is largely employed as
an assistant to the fishermen, and is care
fully educated to its work by professional
trainers. When thoroughly trained a
pair of birds is worth forty dollars, the
high price being explained by the cost
and labor of instruction. During the
FIRST seven months of its life the cormo-
rant is left with the flock, and is taught
by its elders how to feed itself on small
fish. After that age, however, a collar
is fastened about its neck so that it can
not swallow its prey, and to one Of
its feet cord some two feet long
is attached, terminating in a bam-
boo float. at signal from the fish
erman, whose sole implement is forked
stick some ten feet long, the cormorants
plunge into the water and search for
fish, each bird, as fast as he catches one
in his beak, rising to the surface. The
fisherman then hooks the birds float
with his stick and draws it toward him,
taking the fish away from the cormorant
as soon as it comes within reach OF his
arm.


When the fish is very large and weighs
seven or eight pounds, for example, the
cormorants will assist each other, one
catching the fish by the tall another by
the head, etc. They rarely catch any
thing weighing less than a quarter OF a
pound. After every capture small bit
of fish is thrown to the bird as a reward,
the piece being sufficiently little for it to
swallow in spite Of its collar. Chinese
fishermen keep their feathered assist
ants at work as long as daylight lasts.
Occasionally the bird becomes tired
and refuses to dive, a proceeding which
occasions series OF friGhtful yells and
beating of the water by their master,
which frightens them to such an extent
that they resume labor instantly. This
mode of fishing, which is not interrupted
even by severe cold is quite lucrative,
as twenty or thirty birds can readily
catch a dollar and a half worth of fish
per day. In general the fishermen are
assoeiated, and the birds belong to
society WHICH marks them with pecu-
liar brand of its own. Oil OF sesame is
said to be the panaces for oil ills OF the
cormorant, which continues Its career OF
active work until about ten years OF age.


The Chinese Lave also queer ways OF
catching water fowl. Sometimes they
spread great vertical nets with large
meshes near the surface of the water, so
that the wings of tho birds become en-
tangled therein Just before they alllght.
Another arrangement is a sort OF net
tran held open by the bamboo sticks
which, when the birds perch upon them'
fall and allow the game TO become en-
tangled in the meshes. Perhaps the
most inpeniBs idea is carried out by men
who enter the water entirely nude, wad.
ing in up 10 their necks. Over the head
is placed a sort of helmet, which IS
nierced with holes for sight, breathing,
etc, and resting on the mans shoulders
Is a wooden shelf on which, just in front
Of tke sight orifces of the helmet, IS
placed a number Of cups containing corn
or seed. The bird. attracted by the bait
alights upon the shelf, when the fowler
grabs his prey by the legs with his hand,
draws it under the surface, and secures
il in a net bag Bhich is worn about his
waist.