21 301 // 21 Vanuatu (1000), 2005

Jimmy Nelson  

Series: Before They Pass Away.

"XXII467 Yangshuo Cormorants.

Yangshuo County is a county under the jurisdiction of Guilin City, in the northeast of Guangxi, China. Its seat is located in Yangshuo Town. Surrounded by karst peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River it is easily accessible by bus or by boat from nearby Guilin. Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in the Li river. Cormorant fishing has taken place in Japan and China since about 960 AD. 

Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method.

To control the birds, the fishermen tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat. This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can 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 up. Though cormorant fishing once was a successful industry, its primary use today is to serve the tourism industry."

All available sizes and editions:

24.41" x 29.13", Edition of 9

39.37" x 47.24", Edition of 6