Cormorant Fishermen

Along the Li River you pass a variety of animals. One of the more unusual sights, however, are these groups of cormorants. These birds are tethered to the poles shown here. These birds are raised by local fishermen. The fishermen place nooses around their necks. The birds are released to go fishing but, due to the nooses, cannot swallow the fish they catch. They return to the fishermen's rafts where the men collect the fish. Evidently, if the birds are not given enough fish, they go "on strike". Fascinating!!