For years I have bottom fished for halibut and ling cod, trolled for salmon, and fly fished for steelhead.* While living in Hawaii I regularly fished for mahi mahi, ahi (yellowfin tuna), aku (albacore), marlin, and ono (wahoo).* But a few days ago I got to experience first hand a fishing method I had read about as a little kid but never thought I would get to actually try in my lifetime.
My cameraman and I got to go fishing on the Li River in China using cormorants.* The fellow pictured in the the photos below showed us how to do it and then we got to try it ourselves.* Underwater the bird catches the fish sideways in its beak and then comes to the surface to reposition it for swallowing whole.* The fishermen use ivory rings or string loops slid down over the bird's neck prior to putting it in the water so it can catch but not swallow a fish.* In the first photo the bird in front of the fisherman has caught a fish but the string loop constricts its neck just enough so he cannot swallow the fish.* You can see the fish tail sticking out of its mouth.*
Working with the cormorants was really cool.* They are suprisingly light for such a large bird.* They have no oil on or in their feathers which is why they are such amazing swimmers.* However, with no oil they get waterlogged so periodically they have to sit with their wings outstretched to dry out before they can dive again.* Otherwise they will eventually lose their floatation and drown.* The bird on the bow of the boat in the first shot is doing this--- it's not a shot that captured it while it was flapping its wings.* Around here they will sit like this for long periods of time on buoys, floating logs, rocks, and even power lines drying their wings.
So far as I know cormorant fishing is mostly done as a hobby these days although some fishermen may still use the practice commercially in China or Japan. The fellow we fished with is a hobbiest and our fishing trip was arranged by one of our drivers who happens to know him.* The fellow holding the cormorant is my cameraman, shots 4, 5, and 6 are of the Li River that we fished on.
Cormorants are very common in PNW waters but after this experience I'll have a whole different perception of them.
The boats used on the Li River are traditionally made of bamboo and you still see a lot of these today in the smaller boat sizes.* However these days the bigger ones are made using PVC pipe that's bent up to form the bow and stern.* While the boats we fished from were poled by hand to eliminate any risk to the birds from propellers, the boats used on the river for transportation are powered by the ultimate in "long shaft" outboards.* I have attached a photo of one of these so you can see what they're like. The motor and drive pivot and tilt on a fitting under the motor.* The river level fluctuates greatly thoughout the year but* these boats can be powered quite fast through water that is only inches deep.
*
-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 14th of December 2011 02:35:40 AM
My cameraman and I got to go fishing on the Li River in China using cormorants.* The fellow pictured in the the photos below showed us how to do it and then we got to try it ourselves.* Underwater the bird catches the fish sideways in its beak and then comes to the surface to reposition it for swallowing whole.* The fishermen use ivory rings or string loops slid down over the bird's neck prior to putting it in the water so it can catch but not swallow a fish.* In the first photo the bird in front of the fisherman has caught a fish but the string loop constricts its neck just enough so he cannot swallow the fish.* You can see the fish tail sticking out of its mouth.*
Working with the cormorants was really cool.* They are suprisingly light for such a large bird.* They have no oil on or in their feathers which is why they are such amazing swimmers.* However, with no oil they get waterlogged so periodically they have to sit with their wings outstretched to dry out before they can dive again.* Otherwise they will eventually lose their floatation and drown.* The bird on the bow of the boat in the first shot is doing this--- it's not a shot that captured it while it was flapping its wings.* Around here they will sit like this for long periods of time on buoys, floating logs, rocks, and even power lines drying their wings.
So far as I know cormorant fishing is mostly done as a hobby these days although some fishermen may still use the practice commercially in China or Japan. The fellow we fished with is a hobbiest and our fishing trip was arranged by one of our drivers who happens to know him.* The fellow holding the cormorant is my cameraman, shots 4, 5, and 6 are of the Li River that we fished on.
Cormorants are very common in PNW waters but after this experience I'll have a whole different perception of them.
The boats used on the Li River are traditionally made of bamboo and you still see a lot of these today in the smaller boat sizes.* However these days the bigger ones are made using PVC pipe that's bent up to form the bow and stern.* While the boats we fished from were poled by hand to eliminate any risk to the birds from propellers, the boats used on the river for transportation are powered by the ultimate in "long shaft" outboards.* I have attached a photo of one of these so you can see what they're like. The motor and drive pivot and tilt on a fitting under the motor.* The river level fluctuates greatly thoughout the year but* these boats can be powered quite fast through water that is only inches deep.
*
-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 14th of December 2011 02:35:40 AM
