37 



fishermen takes up the dip net in order to receive the corals 

 and to keep them from falling off tlu net. Coral fishing 

 may be carried on at any time of the year but the weather and 

 the condition of the tide are usually taken into consideration. 

 May, June and July are the best season. 



( 1 2) The Cormorant Fishing. . . Exhibited by the Gifu Prefecture- 

 The origin of the cormorant fishing in Nagaragawa, Gifu, runs 

 back to a remote period, but with the progress of time the fishinj^ 

 has grown very prosperous and now in three places the Imperial 

 fishing grounds are established. Being one of the most celebrated 

 places of interest and attraction people from all quarters of 

 Japan, pay a visit to this place and in recent years the number 

 of foreign visitors have also considerably increased. The 

 beautiful scenery of the Kinkwazan with the quiet stream of the 

 Nagara-gawa form a most attractive summer resort. Cormorants 

 used in purpose of fishing are those caught on the sea coast of 

 Shinojima, Aichi Prefecture during the winter season. The bird 

 with a neck 7 or 8 inches in length and body I foot 3 inches 

 long weighing from 5 to 7 pounds is preferable. In training 

 the bird, the eye-lids are sewn together and when they are sent 

 to the place of fishing, the threads are taken out whilj part 

 of both wings is cut off so disabling them from flight. The body 

 and the beak of the bird is tied with hemp rope; the bird is 

 taken on the boat once every day, let down into the river to swim 

 with a rope attached to it or it is trained four or five days to 

 stand quiet at the bow of the ship. When it is sufficiently 

 tame enough to know the people, the rope tying the mouth is let 

 loose while the bird is set at liberty to swim in shallow places 

 with other trained birds so as to learn the method of fishing. 

 After being trained in this way about May in the following >'ear 



