THE FISHERIES OF THE FAR EAST 



should escape, to which the fisherman puts an end by 

 leaning over as soon as the birds come within reach and 

 relieving them of their burden. 



When it is the turn of the " apprentices " to go in, the 

 procedure is different. Probably the cord is fastened on, 

 and the bird is driven in by dint of much clapping of 

 hands on the part of the fisherman. Then, perhaps, 

 instead of diving, the cormorant will merely stare round 

 in bewildered fashion till the master, with a long rod, 

 guides it away from the boat, and, if it still remain 

 obstinate, plunges it bodily under with the end of the 

 stick. Some men, in addition to bridling the young 

 birds, fasten a cord round the body, leaving a loop like a 

 kettle-handle at the top to serve the purpose of lifting 

 the creature in and out. 



When this species of fishing is carried on by night, a 

 brazier or a lighted torch is fixed at one end of the raft, 

 where it not only enables the fisherman to see what he is 

 doing, but also acts as a bait, appealing to the everlast- 

 ing curiosity of the fish which rise "to worship the 

 delusive flame," as Shelley expresses it. 



A third variety of bank and raft fishing is by means of 

 a very large dip-net, made of twine or spruce-fibre. The 

 gear, weighted with stones, is lowered by a single rope 

 which runs out over the head of a wooden lever and is 

 left down for an hour or so ; at the end of that time the 

 lever is weighed up till the mouth of the net comes just 

 above water, then the fishermen, armed with small 

 landing-nets fitted to long handles, proceed at leisure to 

 bale out the contents. 



185 



