1920.] N. ANNANDALE & S. L. Hora: The Fish of Seistan. 197 
Egypt, I have not the learning necessary for a discussion on the 
subject The dindi (fig. 16C) is of simpler construction than the 
tutin, but may be degenerate. 
Except their bulrush rafts and punting poles the only imple- 
ment used in fishing by the fishermen of the Hamun is a cotton 
net of simple structure. The cotton is grown locally. The net is 
oblong in shape, about 4 feet deep and 100 feet or more in length. 
The mesh is very large, allowing all small fish to escape. 
In setting the net it is tied above and below at each end to a 
pointed tamarisk stick. The pointed end of these sticks is struck 
into the bottom of the lake and they are arranged in such a way in 
reference to the direction of the wind, and therefore of currents in 
the water, that the net forms a semicircle with its lower edge on 
the bottom and its upper edge slightly above the surface. It is 
set in a position into which it is easy to drive the fish, often in an 
open channel in the reed-beds or, in exceptionally calm weather, 
just outside one in the open lake. In the former case the channel 
is usually one that leads out of an open pool and suitable pools 
are apparently kept free of reeds for the purpose. 
A considerable number of fishermen, each on his tutin, take 
part in driving the fish into the net. They arrange their rafts 
in a wide semicircle opposite that of the net and gradually con- 
verge towards it, beating the water with their poles and ululating 
with the peculiar sound conventionally transliterated ‘‘ halelujah”’ 
in English religious works. They show great skill in directing 
a few vigorous downward strokes with their poles to give the rafts 
an impetus, and then striking the water before the forward move- 
ment ceases. The fish are gregarious and apparently rather 
sluggish and are easily frightened into the net in this manner. 
When the semicircle of rafts has completely converged on 
that of the net the supporting sticks are pulled out of the water 
simultaneously by the men in the two end futins, and turned up 
horizontally in such a way that the net is transformed into a bag. 
The two ends are then drawn at the same time into the two 
tutins, which approach one another as rapidly as possible. 
Unlike Indian fishermen the Saiyad despise all small fish and 
do not attempt to catch any much less than a foot in length. 
We saw a similar method of fishing used in small channels 
leading out of the Hamun. Here the net was much shorter and 
was stretched right across the channel. ‘The men who used it 
waded in the water. 
The only other method of fishing that we saw in Seistan was 
employed in pools ii the dry stream-bed of Randa near the ruined 
city of Jellalabad. Here a rude and particularly clumsy kind of 
trawl was used. The net was a large bag, with considerably 
smaller meshes than that employed in the Hamun. It was fas- 
tened to one horizontal and two upright poles. The horizontal 
pole lay on the bottom of the pool and the two upright ones were 
held in position by means of ropes attached to their upper ends. 
Four men worked this trawl, two pulling ropes attached to the 
