Special catalogue of the Chinese collection of exhibits for the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883.

  • Chinese Maritime Customs Service
Date:
[1883]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Special catalogue of the Chinese collection of exhibits for the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    57/106 (page 47)
    “ The teaching being completed, the cormorants are fed sparingly every morning with fish. A small ring of hemp is tied around their necks to prevent them from swallowing large fish, and they are taken on board the small punt, called ‘ cormorant boat,’ to the number of io or 12. They are now as docile as dogs, and sit perched on the side of the boat until they are sent into the water by a mere whistle from their master. They dive after fish, and bring their prizes to the boat, firmly held in their hooked beaks. When a fish is too large for one bird, three or more join their forces and capture it together. Sometimes the fisherman signals them to dive by striking the water with a long bamboo. If any cormorant is inclined to be disobedient, his legs are connected by a short piece of string; this forms a loop, by means of which the bird may at any moment be brought on board nolens volens with a long bamboo hook. “After fishing two or three hours, the birds are allowed to come on board and rest. At the end of the day the hempen ring is loosened or removed altogether, and they are either allowed to fish for them- selves, or are fed by the hand of their master. Seizing the birds one after another by the upper mandible, the fisherman thrusts into their throats a handful of small fish and a ball of beancurd, as large as his fist, the ingurgitation of which he helps with the other hand by stroking the neck of the bird, who seems to enjoy it, as he promptly returns for a second supply. The entire scene is most ludicrous. At night the birds are brought home and caged. A cormorant holds out for five years, at the end of which time these birds lose their feathers, and soon after die. The females, being weaker than the males, only catch small fish—hence their lower value. Very good birds reach a value of Tk 10 a pair—a well-trained male being worth $6 or $7. The females lay when one year old.” 7 Model—Boat with Flat Net: Pan tseng ch'uan. This net is made of hempstring. It is variable in size,—some specimens being 26J feet square, and others 16J feet. The smaller-sized net has finer meshes than the other, and the use of it is confined to lake, river, and canal fishing. All nets of the description shown in this model may be worked either from the bow of a boat or from the shore. The net is attached at its comers to the ends of four bamboo poles, the other ends of which are gathered together and tied to the extremity of a long pole which projects over the water from the front of the boat, or from the bank. A rope fastened to the upper end of this pole glides over a small wheel, by the aid of which the net can easily be raised. From the third to the ninth Chinese month the large flat net is greatly used in sea fishing. 8 Model—Foot BoatJ]]# jfjg, Chiao ta ch'uan. Used for rapid travel by river and canal. This kind of boat conveys but one passenger, or in rare instances two; it is very comfortable, being warm in winter, and perfectly dry. The boatman propels it by means of a single wide-bladed oar, worked, on one side only, by his feet and legs, while he steers with a paddle held under the arm. He often rows for 18 to 24 hours at a stretch, only pausing occasionally for a few moments to cook his food, an operation which is very simply performed in the boat by means of a small portable clay furnace close beside him. 9 Various Flags used by Fishermen: $$ Jjf; ££ & H§ ^ ^, Yu ch'uan hsiian kua ko yang ch'i tzu. 10 Weathercocks, made of Cloth and Bamboo, used on Chinese Boats: J§H $|E, K'an feng ch'i. Ningpo.