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Hunting with cormorants.


China 1949. Mankind has learned to attract animals to its hunting a long time ago. Falconry existed in the Middle Ages, and greyhounds, hounds, terriers, and other hunting dog breeds were traditionally used in Europe. But the people of East Asia managed to surprise everyone. They not only decided to improve the ancient fishing process, but also attracted waterfowl for this purpose — the well-known cormorants. Cormorant hunting is an ancient tradition that has been around for thousands of years. Its essence is that the cormorant hunts fish not for itself, but for the person who taught it. It was the one who taught them, because all the cormorants involved in this process are trained birds. They know their owner very well, navigate well among the boats on the water and obediently give the caught fish. However, there is a small subtlety here. It is very difficult to convince a bird of prey not to eat its prey. No amount of training will be able to kill the instinct. Therefore, hunters use a trick — they put a thin ring on the bird's neck. A bird can breathe, fly, drink and swallow small fish as thick as a little finger, but a large fish will not pass. Cormorant hunting is widespread in Japan, China and Vietnam. However, each country has its own traditions and its own differences in fishing methods. And if in Japan it looks more like a theatrical performance (which, in fact, it is, since tickets are being sold for this show), then in China fishing with cormorants is an everyday process, one might say, a routine and a way to feed your family. In Japan, cormorant hunting is called ukai. The birds here are almost like a national treasure and a great attraction for tourists. It used to be that Japanese fishermen used cormorants to feed themselves and sell their catch at the market. And now all this is a thing of the past, and the birds are not able to compete with fishing trawlers. And their owners receive income not from fish, but from the tourism department for the spectacle they arrange. But in China, the approach to cormorant fishing is somewhat different. The birds are cherished and cherished there, they live in Chinese fishermen's families almost as family members. Offending them with some kind of leashes — no way! Chinese birds themselves bring fish into the boat and release it from their beaks. Cormorants are great divers who can dive up to 15 meters deep. And muddy water is not a hindrance to them, they just feel the movement of fish in the water column. Following the boat, cormorants suddenly plunge into the water, then come to the surface. The birds fill their throat pouches with small fish, and hold the large fish with their beaks. Hunting closely monitors the process, and if the cormorant catches a particularly large prey, it lowers a bamboo pole into the water. The bird obediently climbs onto it, holding the wriggling fish tightly in its beak. The hunter pulls the pole into the boat and alre

Hunting with cormorants.

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Henry Osborn – bone hunter

On a photo paleontologist Henry Osborn with dinosaur limbs, 1899.

Henry Osborn was the first man to describe the complete skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex and coined the name itself. It translates to "royal tyrant lizard."

Henry Osborn was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and attended Princeton University. From 1883 to 1890, he served as a professor of comparative anatomy. In 1891, he was appointed to the faculty of Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History. In 1896, he became a professor of zoology at Columbia University. In 1908, he succeeded Morris Jesup as president of the Natural History Museum, a position he held until 1933.

He led many expeditions in the Southwest United States, starting with the first excavations in Colorado and Wyoming in 1877. He also led expeditions in Mongolia, searching for human ancestors.

Henry Osborn was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States (1900), a foreign member of the Royal Society of London (1926), a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences (1910), the Russian Academy of Sciences (1923), and the French Academy of Sciences (1927).

Henry Osborn – bone hunter On a photo paleontologist Henry Osborn with dinosaur limbs, 1899. Henry Osborn was the first man to describe the complete skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex and coined the name itself. It translates to "royal tyrant lizard." Henry Osborn was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and attended Princeton University. From 1883 to 1890, he served as a professor of comparative anatomy. In 1891, he was appointed to the faculty of Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History. In 1896, he became a professor of zoology at Columbia University. In 1908, he succeeded Morris Jesup as president of the Natural History Museum, a position he held until 1933. He led many expeditions in the Southwest United States, starting with the first excavations in Colorado and Wyoming in 1877. He also led expeditions in Mongolia, searching for human ancestors. Henry Osborn was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States (1900), a foreign member of the Royal Society of London (1926), a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences (1910), the Russian Academy of Sciences (1923), and the French Academy of Sciences (1927).

Post: 21 July 7:57

Hunting History

Miss National Catfish Queen. 

Winner and recognized catfish queen Gail Hooper from Tennessee holds a 25 kg catfish at the New Yorker Hotel, 1945.

Photographer: Al Pucci

Miss National Catfish Queen. Winner and recognized catfish queen Gail Hooper from Tennessee holds a 25 kg catfish at the New Yorker Hotel, 1945. Photographer: Al Pucci

Post: 12 April 3:52

Hunting History

Fishermen near Mont Saint Michel. Normandy, France, 1889.

Fishermen near Mont Saint Michel. Normandy, France, 1889.

Post: 13 March 5:37

Hunting History

Ballerina Maya Plisetskaya fishing on the banks of the Moskva River,
1956.

Maya Plisetskaya, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, danced her part in Swan Lake more than 800 times, appearing on stage in this role for 30 years — from 1947 to 1977.

In the late 1970s, she headed the Ballet of the Roman Opera and the Spanish ballet company Teatro Lirico Nacional. She has worked with the most prominent choreographers in the world, dancing on all the best ballet stages without exception.

For many famous artists, Plisetskaya was a muse. Her grace and beauty inspired Chagall, Petit, Bejar, Cardin.

Journalists often pestered her with the question of how she manages to keep her figure for many years. She answered: "No dieting, you need to eat less." Or she'd tell a favorite joke for a change. Future ballerinas and girly girls flock to her, chirping, asking for an autograph. One, bolder, asks the question: "Tell me, how do you manage to stay in this shape?" Plisetskaya teaches: "Girl, remember the main thing: do not eat after six. How old are you?"—"Six." "That's it, don't eat anymore."

Еven in her old age, she had a magnificent figure. The ballerina's favorite food was herring, which she affectionately called "seleda."

Photographer: Evgeny Umnov

Ballerina Maya Plisetskaya fishing on the banks of the Moskva River, 1956. Maya Plisetskaya, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, danced her part in Swan Lake more than 800 times, appearing on stage in this role for 30 years — from 1947 to 1977. In the late 1970s, she headed the Ballet of the Roman Opera and the Spanish ballet company Teatro Lirico Nacional. She has worked with the most prominent choreographers in the world, dancing on all the best ballet stages without exception. For many famous artists, Plisetskaya was a muse. Her grace and beauty inspired Chagall, Petit, Bejar, Cardin. Journalists often pestered her with the question of how she manages to keep her figure for many years. She answered: "No dieting, you need to eat less." Or she'd tell a favorite joke for a change. Future ballerinas and girly girls flock to her, chirping, asking for an autograph. One, bolder, asks the question: "Tell me, how do you manage to stay in this shape?" Plisetskaya teaches: "Girl, remember the main thing: do not eat after six. How old are you?"—"Six." "That's it, don't eat anymore." Еven in her old age, she had a magnificent figure. The ballerina's favorite food was herring, which she affectionately called "seleda." Photographer: Evgeny Umnov

Post: 9 March 15:58

Hunting History

Why did the Americans try to destroy the bison population?

The near-destruction of the American bison (or buffalo) population in the 19th century was not an accidental or random event but rather a deliberate and systematic effort driven by multiple factors, many of which were tied to the U.S. government's broader policies toward Native Americans. The bison were central to the lives, cultures, and economies of many Plains Indigenous tribes, and their destruction was seen as a way to weaken Native resistance and force assimilation into Euro-American society.

Key Reasons for the Destruction of the Bison:

1. Undermining Native American Resistance:
   - The bison were essential to the survival and way of life for many Plains tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Comanche, and others. These tribes relied on bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and spiritual practices.
   - By destroying the bison herds, the U.S. government and settlers sought to undermine the ability of Native Americans to resist colonization and forced relocation. Without bison, tribes would be more dependent on government rations and less able to sustain themselves independently.
   - This strategy was part of a broader campaign of cultural genocide aimed at dismantling Indigenous ways of life and forcing Native peoples onto reservations.

2. Facilitating Westward Expansion:
   - The bison herds roamed vast areas of the Great Plains, which were also prime lands for agriculture, ranching, and settlement by European Americans. Clearing the land of bison made it easier for settlers, railroads, and ranchers to take over these territories.
   - The presence of large bison herds was seen as an obstacle to westward expansion, as they could damage crops, compete with livestock for grazing land, and disrupt transportation routes.

3. Economic Exploitation:
   - While the primary motive was often political and cultural, there was also an economic dimension to the slaughter. Bison hides and tongues were valuable commodities, and commercial hunters killed bison in massive numbers for profit.
   - Railroads played a significant role in facilitating this exploitation, as trains allowed hunters to transport bison products to markets efficiently. Additionally, some railroad companies encouraged the killing of bison to clear paths for trains and reduce the risk of collisions with herds.

4. Military Strategy:
   - Military leaders like General Philip Sheridan supported the extermination of bison as a tactic to weaken Native American tribes. Sheridan famously stated that the best way to defeat Native Americans was to "kill the Indian and save the man," and he saw the destruction of the bison as a key step in achieving this goal.
   - Soldiers and settlers often participated in mass hunts, sometimes shooting bison purely for sport or to deprive Native peoples of resources.

5. Cultural Superiority and Manifest Destiny:
   - Many Americans at the time believed in the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which held that it was their divine right and duty to expand across North America. This belief often came with a sense of cultural superiority, viewing Indigenous ways of life as inferior and obstacles to "progress."
   - The bison, as symbols of the Plains tribes' independence and resilience, became targets in this broader effort to impose Euro-American dominance.

The Scale of the Slaughter:
- Estimates suggest that tens of millions of bison roamed North America before European contact. By the late 1800s, their numbers had been reduced to just a few hundred. This catastrophic decline was achieved through organized hunting campaigns, often supported or encouraged by the U.S. government.
- In some cases, bison were killed en masse without even using their hides or meat, simply left to rot on the plains as a demonstration of power and control.

Legacy:
- The near-extinction of the bison had devastating consequences for Native American communities, contributing to widespread starvation, displacement, and cultural loss.
- Today, efforts are underway to restore bison populations and recognize their ecological and cultural significance. However, the legacy of their destruction remains a stark reminder of the violence and systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples during this period.

In summary, the destruction of the bison population was a calculated strategy to disempower Native Americans, facilitate westward expansion, and enforce Euro-American dominance over the continent. It was both a practical and symbolic act, reflecting the broader goals of colonization and cultural erasure.

Why did the Americans try to destroy the bison population? The near-destruction of the American bison (or buffalo) population in the 19th century was not an accidental or random event but rather a deliberate and systematic effort driven by multiple factors, many of which were tied to the U.S. government's broader policies toward Native Americans. The bison were central to the lives, cultures, and economies of many Plains Indigenous tribes, and their destruction was seen as a way to weaken Native resistance and force assimilation into Euro-American society. Key Reasons for the Destruction of the Bison: 1. Undermining Native American Resistance: - The bison were essential to the survival and way of life for many Plains tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Comanche, and others. These tribes relied on bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and spiritual practices. - By destroying the bison herds, the U.S. government and settlers sought to undermine the ability of Native Americans to resist colonization and forced relocation. Without bison, tribes would be more dependent on government rations and less able to sustain themselves independently. - This strategy was part of a broader campaign of cultural genocide aimed at dismantling Indigenous ways of life and forcing Native peoples onto reservations. 2. Facilitating Westward Expansion: - The bison herds roamed vast areas of the Great Plains, which were also prime lands for agriculture, ranching, and settlement by European Americans. Clearing the land of bison made it easier for settlers, railroads, and ranchers to take over these territories. - The presence of large bison herds was seen as an obstacle to westward expansion, as they could damage crops, compete with livestock for grazing land, and disrupt transportation routes. 3. Economic Exploitation: - While the primary motive was often political and cultural, there was also an economic dimension to the slaughter. Bison hides and tongues were valuable commodities, and commercial hunters killed bison in massive numbers for profit. - Railroads played a significant role in facilitating this exploitation, as trains allowed hunters to transport bison products to markets efficiently. Additionally, some railroad companies encouraged the killing of bison to clear paths for trains and reduce the risk of collisions with herds. 4. Military Strategy: - Military leaders like General Philip Sheridan supported the extermination of bison as a tactic to weaken Native American tribes. Sheridan famously stated that the best way to defeat Native Americans was to "kill the Indian and save the man," and he saw the destruction of the bison as a key step in achieving this goal. - Soldiers and settlers often participated in mass hunts, sometimes shooting bison purely for sport or to deprive Native peoples of resources. 5. Cultural Superiority and Manifest Destiny: - Many Americans at the time believed in the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which held that it was their divine right and duty to expand across North America. This belief often came with a sense of cultural superiority, viewing Indigenous ways of life as inferior and obstacles to "progress." - The bison, as symbols of the Plains tribes' independence and resilience, became targets in this broader effort to impose Euro-American dominance. The Scale of the Slaughter: - Estimates suggest that tens of millions of bison roamed North America before European contact. By the late 1800s, their numbers had been reduced to just a few hundred. This catastrophic decline was achieved through organized hunting campaigns, often supported or encouraged by the U.S. government. - In some cases, bison were killed en masse without even using their hides or meat, simply left to rot on the plains as a demonstration of power and control. Legacy: - The near-extinction of the bison had devastating consequences for Native American communities, contributing to widespread starvation, displacement, and cultural loss. - Today, efforts are underway to restore bison populations and recognize their ecological and cultural significance. However, the legacy of their destruction remains a stark reminder of the violence and systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples during this period. In summary, the destruction of the bison population was a calculated strategy to disempower Native Americans, facilitate westward expansion, and enforce Euro-American dominance over the continent. It was both a practical and symbolic act, reflecting the broader goals of colonization and cultural erasure.

Post: 5 March 17:37

Hunting History

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