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HOW JOHN CHINAMAN CATCHES HIS -BISH.

 

E is, in some ways, a very clever fellow,
is John Chinaman, as you will no doubt
agree when you have heard how he catches his
fish. Of course, he knows our way of fishing,
and he does sometimes provide a dinner for
himself and his family by means of rod and
line. But he has another and a very singular
“iN method of catching fish, in which he makes use
“JOHN cHINAMAN.” Of the bird known as the cormorant, which is
an admirable swimmer and a good diver, and chases fish
with equal perseverance and success.

A well-known traveller tells us that he once saw a number
of fishermen capturing large quantities of fish by means of
these birds. This is how it was done. One of the fishermen,
standing at the head of the boat, took charge of the birds.
The boat was rowed into mid-stream, and, at a given signal,
the half-dozen or more cormorants stationed on the craft
dived into the water to search for fish: To prevent the birds
from swallowing the fish, each had a band or ring made of
bamboo round its neck. They swam with their prey to the
boat, and the fishermen at once extracted the fishes from their
throats and deposited them in a creel. When fatigued, the
cormorants rested for a little while on the vessels, resuming
their task whenever the fishermen gave the signal. Some-
times the Chinese use a kind of raft, sometimes a broad
‘boat; and at night they often suspend fires from the head
of their vessels.

And that is how John Chinaman, with the help of the
cormorant, catches his fish!