Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA)

Oral Presentation Session

Multi joining methods among cormorants, fishers and fishing techniques: the case study on regional similarities and differences ㏌ cormorant fishing ㏌ China.

Presenter(s)

• SU

  SHUHEI UDA

  National Museum of Ethnology, JAPAN

This presentation describes multi joining methods among cormorants, fishers and fishing techniques in Chinese cormorant fishing, especially compares regional methods, tools, and breeding techniques used by cormorant fishers. Many studies have examined the techniques and historical change of Japanese cormorant fishing. However, the distribution and regional characteristics of cormorant fishing in China remain unknown.
This presentation compares regional fishing methods, boats, and gear, and classifies practices in each area using four categories: (A) fishers who breed cormorants and use only cormorants for fishing, (B) fishers who use only cormorants for fishing but do not breed them, (C) fishers who breed cormorants and use them in combination with fishing nets, and (D) fishers who use cormorants and nets but do not breed.
Types A and C are found mainly in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, eastern China. Type B is used at Poyang and Dongting lakes (Jiangxi and Hunan provinces) in the middle reaches of the Changjiang River. Type D is practiced in the upper reaches of this river, northeastern Guangxi, southern Hunan, and Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Finally, this presentation identifies differences between Japanese and Chinese cormorant fishing: all cormorants in China are artificially incubated and fishers do not use rope tethers.