CHAPTER XII 



BIRD FISHERMEN 



See how he stalks along the pebbly strand, 



With keen eye watching each subaqueous motion; 



Wading knee-deep, for hours he will stand, 

 Yet as for taking cold, he scorns the notion! 



He needs no rod,' nor line, nor fishing book, 

 Although he makes his living on the water; 



He catches all his fish without a hook, 



And when he's 'gotten hand' he gives no quarter. 



—From "The Heron." 



IN the bird world, as in the human, there are 

 many professional fishermen. On the other 

 hand there are numerous birds that "go fishing" oc- 

 casionally, apparently for the sport there is in it. 

 The best anglers, however, are those that make it 

 a profession. Each fisher has his peculiar and fa- 

 vourite method of fishing. Some fish in the day- 

 time, others at night; some fish in large groups, 

 while others go singly. The implements they use 

 are as varied as they are numerous, and the kind 

 of fish desired largely determines the place and 

 method of fishing. 



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