BIRD FISHERMEN 193 



water, and their great beaks are spread open like 

 so many fishing-nets. By the time they reach the 

 shore, each bird usually has his immense pouch 

 well-filled with fish. Cormorants feed in the same 

 way, with the exception that they do not fish quite 

 so successfully in droves. It seems that they are 

 not so skilled in united efforts as are the pelicans; 

 but both are clever fishermen, and employ good 

 tactics in their work. 



The grey pelican, according to Jerdon, has a 

 strong musky odour, which some naturalists believe 

 attracts fishes, and for this reason it is used by 

 fishermen in eastern Bengal to aid in attracting and 

 catching certain species of fish. The numerous 

 kinds of colisa are attracted by the odour and oil 

 of these birds and congregate in large numbers 

 where they are present. As a result many are 

 caught. Cormorants also have a musky odour 

 which comes from their oily skins. 



These birds are easily tamed and trained, and 

 sometimes used successfully by the Chinese in catch- 

 ing fish. Sir George Staunton, in his Einbassy to 

 China, tells how, during his journey to Hau-choo- 

 foo, "the Embassy had not proceeded far on the 

 southern branch of the canal when they arrived in 

 the vicinity of the place where the . . . famed fish- 

 ing-bird is bred, and instructed in the art and prac- 



