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68. Fish are also caught in the large stake-nets which are a familiar feature of the surrounding coasts: these are of two kinds, the off-shore nets worked from a sort of crow's nest fixed on four piles driven into the sea-bed, often as much as 2 or 3 miles from the land, and the in-shore nets worked usually from a similar structure on the rocks, or the shore. Both nets are of similar construction, being large and square with rather a small mesh, to catch everything, and with a pocket in the centre, out of which the fish is taken from underneath. The net is fastened to four bamboo poles fixed into sockets, and is worked up and down by means of a windlass. The chief season for these nets is from June to September. They have not shared in the prosperity of the fishing trade during the last two or three years, and have often been worked at a loss.
69. It has been said that the large junks trawl for every kind of fish, and in fact no craft or stake-net disdains any of the dwellers in the sea-except the porpoise which is nei- ther caught nor eaten, and the turtle which the Chinese as a rule refuses to catch or eat, though they sell and eat their eggs, which are found in abundance on beaches round the coast during the summer months.
70. But there are certain seasons and certain methods for catching various fish which deserve mention.
Whales have occasionally visited the waters of Mirs Bay, and in July, 1905, one was struck by a passing steamer, and the carcase washed ashore at the top of Tolo Harbour, 10 miles from Taipo: none appear to have seen during the last five years,
Sharks come into the neighbourhood and are fished for occasionally about June in the vicinity of Ling Ting Island, to the South-West of Hongkong. A line one or two miles long is laid down in the evening attached to floats, and fastened down by anchors at each end to this are attached large hooks at intervals of every 10 yards or so, baited with attractive morsels of fish or meat. If a shark catches one of the hooks he wears himself out with pulling at the line, which is taken up in the morning: as many as a dozen sharks have been caught on one line.
:
Wong Fa are caught in large quantities during November and December at the mouth of the Canton River near Tai 0: they come in with the tide in immense shoals and all the craft from the neighbourhood sally out to catch them. They go out in pairs with large nets having sinkers at one end and floaters at the other: the men detect the presence of the fish by keeping their ears at the side of the junk, and throw in the net when they hear them coming.
Chu Yu--a kind of herring with a slight taste of mackerel is caught in January, February and March by nets. of the same kind as the above: but their coming is detected by their movements along the surface on dark nights.
Hak Chong Yu (black pomfret) is caught during the summer months by means of decoy fish, made of sandalwood and painted white, which are dragged through the water and followed by these fish, which are then easily cauglit: or boards painted white are laid out on the side of the boat, and the fish leap on to these and fall into the boat.
71. Torches are much used at night in sheltered waters for catching fish. Curiously enough, in some cases, as with the Cheng Lun Yu (a sort of small herring) they are used, in conjunction with the noise of wooden clappers on the side of the boat, to frighten the fish into a net spread in front; in other cases they are used to decoy fish towards the boat, when they are speared or scooped up in baskets.
72. Shrimps are caught by means of a close-woven trawl net during the summer months, and about 1,000 boats are employed in this business during the summer months in the waters round Lantao. The shrimps are all made into a paste which is potted and sent to Hongkong, whence it is exported in large quantities.
73. Shell-fish are highly esteemed by the Chinese: they are caught by means of a long line let down with hundreds of empty shells attached: the fish occupy these and when the line is pulled up, they are removed and the line again let down in some parts also they are picked up by means of bamboo forks some 20 feet long with iron prongs, with which the men feel along the bottom and thus pick up the fish.
74. Crabs and Lobsters are caught by means of a long narrow net let down to the sea-bed, or in bamboo trap baskets, with bait inside.