136 REPORT—1840. 
of lan-lan and others of the family Siluride. After the hooks have 
been baited with fish or animal flesh, they are carried out in the 
stream ; the line to which they are attached being about thirty to forty 
fathoms long. Ifthe Indian feels inclined, he keeps the end on the 
land in his hand, but frequently he takes a forked stick, which he 
drives into the ground, and, after having tied some dried bushes to the 
fork, he leads the stray line over it. Ifa fish should bite, the line 
being drawn by the baited fish, will disturb the dry leaves, make a 
noise, and the Indian hurries to seize the line and to haul the fish in. 
If it be a lan-lan (Silurus) or a large paramima (Phractocephalus bi- 
color), some considerable skill is necessary to haul the fish in without 
breaking the line or the hook. Many of the Siluride issue a sound 
when taken out of the water, but few so loud and so continued as the 
paramima. The Indians have always a bludgeon in hand, with which 
they beat in the thickly armed skull, and each blow is sure to produce 
aloud grinding sound ; so that we who were lying in our hammocks 
knew whether a lan-lan, paramima, or any other fish had been secured. 
The Indian considers that a large fire kindled at the water's edge is 
sure to attract such fishes as take the bait only during night, and they 
never fail, therefore, to have a fire or a large brand when they are 
fishing for lan-lans or paramimas. If large blocks of granite impeded 
the river near our corials, all hand-lines which could be spared or pro- 
cured were set in requisition to fish for pirais (Serra-salmon). The 
avidity with which they take the bait ensures success to the least prac- 
tised, and if the place proved a haunt of the pirai, the Indian was sure 
to secure his dinner. The natives possess great art in throwing the 
hand-line from the shore into the stream; and it is a pretty sight to 
see the line circling in the air and descending into the water at a great 
distance from the bank or rock which the angler has selected for his 
stand.” The detail of other modes of fishing was also entered into, 
and drawings of the paddles, hooks, rods, lines, and instruments used 
in fishing were exhibited. 
Mr. Smith, of Deanston, exhibited a model and gave a description 
of a Salmon Stair. The object of this construction was to allow of the 
passage of salmon up streams where mills or other impediments existed. 
After various efforts, Mr. Smith succeeded in erecting one near his 
own residence, which answered the purpose. The salmon, by means . 
of a dyke constructed by the side of the mill-stream, were enabled to 
pass up the stream, whilst a wire defence kept them from falling into 
the mill-stream. 
On some Persian Insects. By James Witson, F.RS.E. 
The author exhibited to the Section a small collection of insects 
from Persia, which he presumed would interest those members who 
devote themselves to entomology, as so few entomological products 
had ever been transmitted from that part of Asia. These insects 
