JAPAN, FISHING WITH CORMORANT BIRDS

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aukepalmhof
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JAPAN, FISHING WITH CORMORANT BIRDS

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:26 pm

Watercraft Philately 1963 volume 10 page 7 has an article from the late Capt. J.J. van der Starre on a thousand-year tradition of fishing with cormorant birds in Japan.

About ten centuries ago the Emperor Saga, a seemingly enlightened and democratic monarch, ruled over Japan. Among his spheres of interest came the fisheries – the “Ukad”- by means of cormorants. With predilection, he caused the little fish “ayu”. Of about 4 inches in length, to be served to his guests. These fishes are a great delicacy but are nearly unattainable for the common men as they are very expensive. Emperor Saga was so keen on “ayus” that he and his guests sailed with the fishermen to be able to consume them on the spot. The imperial boats moored alongside the banks of the River Nagare, while the fleet fished at night time.

In the stem of each boat, a stake was erected with a curved end on which an iron basket containing wood and other inflammable material was hung. This was set on fire and fifteen or twenty cormorants, attached to their lines, dived for the “ayus” in the crystal clear water. Six boats sailed abreast to the full width of the river. The assistants beat on the boat’s sides to alarm the fish and to encourage the birds. The lines are attached to the cormorant’s throat, squeezing it just enough to prevent them from swallowing the fishes. In one dive they can catch four or five “ayus” per bird and in one night about two pounds can be caught. After the catch the fishermen gave the Emperor their salute by swinging the torches, this salute being called “sogarand”.

Not much has altered since the “usjo” as the fishermen are called, still wears the same garment of black cotton, a colour the cormorant like best, and with a black cotton, cape looks today just as a thousand years ago. An apron of straw protects him against the wet birds when they are taken out of the water and onboard. He has the special knack needed to release the fish from the cormorant’s throat.

The cormorants are caught along the shores of Japan by means of a decoy and their eight flight-feathers are extracted, after which they are trained for about ten days. The “usjo” treats them very well and the birds are guarded as a valuable possession. A typical quality of these birds is when resting the oldest one comes first and so down the line, and let none dare to take another’s allotted place or the sharp bills of the remaining elders will call him to order.
Japan issued a 10s stamp in 1940 which shows the “ayus” fish, and a100y stamp which is depicting a fisherman with his cormorants.

See also: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16963
Japan 1940 10s sg 361, scott 301 and 1953 100y sg 669 scott584.
Attachments
1940 Ayu-Fish---Sake-.jpg
1953 Cormorant-fishing.jpg

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