. Western field. s-ing rather to brave the elements man with the diving helmet goes downinto deep water and takes the large specimensfound there. His work is less hazardous thanthat of his companions who work among therocks. Abalone fishing has become a dangeroussport. Years ago it was tame enough, but nowwhen the fish is found only around the mostinaccessible ledges the work of the fisher folkis perilous in the extreme. Sometimes a steelbar or chisel must be used to pry off the shellfish clinging by suction to the rocks. Fromamong myriads of sea anemones, urchins, andclustering
. Western field. s-ing rather to brave the elements man with the diving helmet goes downinto deep water and takes the large specimensfound there. His work is less hazardous thanthat of his companions who work among therocks. Abalone fishing has become a dangeroussport. Years ago it was tame enough, but nowwhen the fish is found only around the mostinaccessible ledges the work of the fisher folkis perilous in the extreme. Sometimes a steelbar or chisel must be used to pry off the shellfish clinging by suction to the rocks. Fromamong myriads of sea anemones, urchins, andclustering ocean flora, the diver, with eyeswide open, selects his prey and never comes tothe surface with less than enough to feed agood sized family. Keen eyes are necessary to the diver, whomust detect the moss-covered abalone from athousand similar objects on the face of therocks. The exterior of the shell is dull andcan only be discovered by the fisher who is anexpert at spying out its hiding place. What WESTERN FIELD. to the novice would appear as an excrescenceon the rock, the trained eye of the Jap knowsat once to be the abalone. Even more difficultis it to find the baby fish. Close to the ocean the Japs have built atiny cottage. So substantial is the piling whichforms its foundations that the waves beat un-ceasingly against it, and the spray leaps inmad white caps above the tiny roof withoutharming the dwellers, as the cottage is se-curely lined and sheds every drop of , warped racks line the miniaturewharves built by the Japanese for landing pur-poses. These are utilized to dry the flesh ofthe shell fish. Ovens have been scooped in theface of the cliffs and the meat is cooked to aturn here for canning purposes. Tons andtons of shells lie around waiting for the curioman. These are sold to American dealerswho afterward polish them and place them onthe market. These shells have artistic possi-bilities which have not yet been realized. Ger-man button manufacturers ha
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectsports, bookyear1902
