But although he gave up the inconvenient trips, Pan didn't have to give up fishing. Instead, he became a regular patron at one of Taiwan's most popular new leisure businesses - 24-hour indoor shrimping ponds. Here, Pan and fellow fishermen sit on stools around a rectangular cement pond about the size of several billiard tables. Their goal is to catch shrimp as fast as the proprietor can keep the tiny pool stocked. It may not be the most challenging of sports, but it is convenient. "Indoor shrimping isn't affected by heavy traffic or bad weather," Pan says.
China Shrimping Pond, where Pan does his fishing, is a typical indoor pond. Located in a downtown residential neighborhood, the four- by ten-meter windowless, concrete room is squeezed between a bedding shop and a small grocery. The entrance is flanked by a check-out counter and a small gas grill where customers can cook their catch. The pond, in the center of the store, measures two-and-a-half by seven meters and is one meter deep. About twenty well-used ashtrays rim the edge of the pond. If patrons tire of shrimping, they can switch to the video games lined up along one wall. If they get thirsty, beer or soft drinks are available. China Shrimping, it would seem, is out to satisfy every need. "Your happiness is our responsibility," reads a Chinese poster pasted on the wall. Another says, "More shrimp in our pond means more shrimp per customer."
Indoor shrimping ponds charge about NT$200 (US$8) for the first hour and NT$150 (US$6) for each following hour. The store provides all the necessary equipment, including rod and net, although some experts prefer to bring their own bait. "My secret weapon is milkfish guts," Pan boasts. "Shrimp are crazy about it."
The shrimping craze started about seven years ago in southern Taiwan, where aquaculture is a major industry. Most facilities were outdoor ponds that had previously been used for raising fish. As the trend moved north, it took up residence on suburban farm lots. The new ponds, measuring ten meters wide and twenty or thirty meters long, were often covered by an awning to keep out the sun and rain. Outdoor ponds are still popular, especially with families and dating couples. Many offer table tennis and TV games as extra attractions.
When shrimping came to the city, where land prices are extraordinarily high, the ponds were scaled down and moved inside. Many can now be found in apartment buildings, either on the first floor or in the basement, as well as in rows of neighborhood shops. Their busiest hours are from 10 P.M. to 3 A.M.
To attract more customers, shrimping ponds have designed some ingenious promotion ideas. For example, patrons who catch a shrimp encircled by a red rubber band might win a can of beer; one with a blue rubber band might mean a pack of cigarettes. An experienced shrimper can catch ten to twelve shrimp per hour, although most customers get less than five. Patrons can take their shrimp home or eat them on the premises. "Once in a while, I call my friends up and tell them to come over to the pond. We roast the shrimp or stew them with rice wine and eat them right here," Pan says. "It's just a way to have fun."