194 GUN, KOD, AND SADDLE. 



A CHINESE MODE OF 

 FISHING. 



IN " Land and Water " is mentioned the circum- 

 stance, that while a pleasure party were descending 

 the Thames, a large pike jumped on board their 

 boat. The reason attributed is doubtless the correct 

 one, but perhaps few of your readers are aware that 

 in China it is a common practice to take fish in this 

 way : viz., by inducing them to jump on board. I 

 do not speak from hearsay, but have several times 

 witnessed it, and will endeavor to explain how it is 

 practiced. The boat used is built for the purpose, 

 excessively long, narrow, of light draught, and close 

 to the water. A board about three feet high and 

 almost the length of the boat, painted snow white, 

 is erected lengthways on one side or other, while on 

 the reverse side from this board is attached to the gun- 

 wale of the boat, a shelf nearly the length of the boat, 

 which gradually slopes to the water's edge also paint- 

 ed white. When the weather is calm and the moon 



