ClIAP. VI. 
CHINESE FISHER. 
85 
rowing and sculling up the river with the greatest 
rapidity. As soon as the men reached a favourable part 
of the stream they cast out their nets and began to make 
a loud noise, splashing with their oars and sculls, with the 
intention, I suppose, of driving the fish into the nets. 
After remaining in this spot for about a quarter of 
an hour, all the boats set off again, farther up, for the 
next station, when the crew commenced again in the 
same noisy manner, and so on, for a long way up the 
river, as long as the tide was flowing ; they then returned 
with the ebb, loaded with fishes for the next morning's 
market. 
There is another mode of catching fish, which I have 
frequently seen in the northern provinces, even more 
curious than that which I have just noticed. Every one 
acquainted with Chinese history knows that fish abound 
in all the rivers and lakes of the north ; indeed, every 
little pond swarms with them. I was greatly surprised 
when I first saw the fish-catcher following his profession 
in these places. He is literally amphibious. He is to 
be seen perfectly naked, half walking, half swimming ; 
now he raises his arms and hands above his head, and, 
bringing them down, strikes a sharp blow upon the 
water, making a loud and splashing noise. His feet are 
not idle : they warn him that a fish is at hand, and they 
are now feeling for him amongst the mud at the bottom 
of the pond. The next moment the fisherman has dis- 
appeared : he is now under water, and he remains so 
long that you think something has happened to him. 
There is, however, no cause of fear ; a few seconds more 
and he appears, rubbing his face and eyes with one 
