THE FISHING CORVORANT. 



4C1 



M Thc embassy (lie says) had not proceeded far on tlie southern 

 branch of the Imperial Canal, when they arrived in tlie vicinity of a 

 place where the Leutze, or faned ri.shing-bird of China, is bred, and 

 instructed in the art and practice of supplying his owner with Jish 

 in great abundance. 



u "Ou a large lake clos3 to this part of the canal, and to the east- 

 ward of it, are thousands of 

 small boats an 1 rafts, built 

 entirely for th : s species of fish- 

 ing. Ou e:ich boat or raft are 

 ten or a do/^n birds, which at a 

 signal from the owner, plunge 

 into the water; and it is aston- 

 ishing to see the enormous si/.e 

 of the lish with which they 

 return, grasped within their 

 hills. They appeared to be so 

 well trained, that it did n->t 

 require either ring or cord 

 about their throats, to prevent 

 them from swallowing any por- 

 tion of their prey, except what 

 the master w.is pleased to re- 

 turn to them for encouragement 

 and foo 1. The boat used by 

 the.se fidiermeii^ is of a remark- 

 ably light nuke; and is often carried to the lake, together with the 

 fishing birds, by the men who are there to be supported by it." 



M. de Buftbn says, that they are regularly educated to fishing, aa 

 Tun rear Spaniels or Hawks, and one man 

 ;an easily manage a hundred. The fisher- 

 Jian carries them out into a lake, perched 

 3u the gunnel of his boat; where they con- 

 tinue tranquil, and wait for his orders with 

 patience. When arrived at the proper 

 place, on the first signal, each flies a diff- 

 erent way, to fulfil the task assigned to it. It 

 is pleasant on this occasion to behold with 

 what sagacity they portion out the lake or 

 canal where they are upon duty. They 

 hunt about, they plunge, they rise a hun- 

 dred times to the surface, until they have 

 at last found their prey. They then seize it 

 by the middle, and carry it to their master. When the fish is too 

 large, they assist each other; one seizes it by the head, and another 

 by the tail, and in this manner they carry it to the boat together 

 There the boatman stretches out one of his long oars, on which 

 they perch, and after being delivered of their burden, again fly off 

 to pursue their sport. When they are wearied, he suffers them to 

 rest awhile ; but they are never fed until their work is over To 



F1SHINU CORVOKA.XT. 



