BIRD FISHERMEN 195 



' probable that the sport with these trained fishers 

 was not a success, as it was never developed to the 

 degree reached by falconry. 



It was a custom in both England and China to 

 tie a leather strap or a ring around the lower part 

 of the cormorant's neck so that he could not swal- 

 low his prey. This is not as cruel as it might seem 

 at first thought, as the cormorant's gullet is as 

 elastic as a rubber bag and very capacious. So 

 elastic are they that in Greenland the fishermen use 

 the gullets blown up and tied at each end for float- 

 ing bladders to support their fishing-nets. 



These birds are as cunning as foxes; they take 

 great delight in the sport of fishing, and leave no 

 rock or cave unexamined for prey. The fish seem 

 to know and dread them, and if there is a muddy 

 bottom to the water, or any small caves near, they 

 try to hide themselves from their green-eyed ene- 

 mies. They very seldom succeed, however, even 

 though they should jump clear out of the water in 

 their attempt to escape, for the cormorants are ex- 

 ceedingly quick, and usually catch the fish even if 

 it has escaped at first. 



If the fish is caught in the wrong position for 

 swallowing, the cormorant tosses it into the air, 

 like a professional juggler would a ball, until it is 

 properly caught, then it is swallowed. Sometimes 



