Fish bearers carry family hopes on their backs

Zhang Lineng, a 56-year-old fish bearer, weighs fish he just unloaded at Wujiang dock, in Zunyi of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Sept 19, 2010. Fish bearers are familiar to the local fishmongers and fish keepers. They help carry fish from fishing boats to the shore, living on a meager payment of 300 yuan ($44) per 5,000 kilograms or 400 yuan ($59) for longer distances for each shift. The 16 bearers all come from a nearby village and divide themselves into two shifts and rotate by week, the oldest being 59-year-old Zhu Anfu, and the youngest at 35 years old. Zhu has been in the business for more than 10 years and the scars on his back say it all. He said: "Although it's a hard work, I just want my family to live easier than before." [Photo/CFP]