Cormorant Fishing

Cormorant Fishing, originally uploaded by haechoo.

Traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in rivers.

To control the birds, the fishermen tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat. Though this prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, the birds are still able to swallow smaller fish. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat and has the bird spit the fish back up. Though cormorant fishing used to be a successful fishing industry, its primary use today is to serve the tourism industry.

(wikipedia)

Cormorant Fishing, originally uploaded by haechoo.