74 FISHERIES AND FISHERMEN 



article ; but most students will probably prefer to consult 

 the French work of M. Dabry de Thiersant, whose abundant 

 illustrations are only equalled in interest by the excellence 

 of the invaluable information conveyed in his text. There 

 are many sorts, both of lines, nets, and modes of capture. 

 The Kuen Keon is a line two or three hundred feet in 

 length, with several branches. It is made of hemp, and is 

 soaked in a strong decoction of oak-bark (ko-chou), or else 

 in the blood of a pig. Pe-Chen-Keon, a line of a somewhat 

 similar character, differs from the Kuen Keon in having its 

 hooks rather smaller, and being suitable for the lesser kinds 

 of fish, more especially eels. Amongst the snares may be 

 noticed the Pan-ta-tseng, a large net in the form of a square, 

 having in its centre a pocket with a bamboo box for the 

 reception of the captives. Four pieces of bamboo, fitted to 

 the corners of the net, meet at the top, and are fixed to the 

 extremity of a lever about ten or twelve feet long, itself 

 reposing upon a strong bamboo which forms the fulcrum of 

 another lever resembling the first, and intended to keep it 

 in equilibrium. This second lever is furnished with leads 

 to counter-balance the weight of the nets, and the 

 machinery is so devised that these heavy nets can be 

 manipulated by the slightest touch. Cormorants are 

 another famous means applied by this ingenious people 

 to the capture of fish, the bird being trained to release his 

 prey at the touch of the rope encircling his neck, with as 

 great certainty as hawks are taught to obey the call of the 

 keeper or the retriever to secure the game. Domestic affairs 

 are conducted with the same strict attention to economy, and 

 consequently attain the same astonishing results among the 

 fishermen as among all other classes of inhabitants through- 

 out the celestial Empire. Although the whole annual family 

 expenses do not average more than about £24, or a little 



