090 Mr. E. L. Layard's Rambles in Cetjl&h. 



wretches hide iti the mud and weeds of paddy fields, or swamps of 

 any kind, and devour all that comes iu their way. The natives 

 catch large quantities by means of wicker baskets, funnel-shaped, 

 like an English eel-basket, which they thrust down among the weeds, 

 and then should the fish (aroused by the commotion all round it) 

 attempt to escape, it knocks itself against the sides, and the blow 

 being felt by the fisher, he introduces his hand through a hole, in- 

 tentionally left at the top, and secures his finny prey. Many are 

 also caught, along with other species, in ingenious creels shaped like 

 a double funnel, which the natives place in the water-runs. 



By the way, that word "creel" is a Scotch word, is it not? 

 Surely it is derived from the Dutch " kraal," or else both spring 

 from one root. - 



Another fish "kraal" of this country is a very ingenioti#'^afl& 

 extensive undertaking ; it often stretches half a mile across a river. 

 Stout upright poles are driven into the bed of the stream and sup- 

 ported by stakes driven in slantingly against the current. Between 

 the uprights smaller stakes are driven, which have been previously 

 attached to skreens made of small rattans, firmly secured apart at 

 equal distances. These skreens are each about ten yards long, and 

 can be removed and rolled up at pleasure. At each end is a trap, 

 shaped thus : — ■ 



■■ i'! 

 jaii-} ni 



■ /ii ssriq 



The inner chamber A is the chamber of death, for from thence 

 there is no retreat, and when the owner comes he attaches his canoe 

 to the stakes, and, taking a small hand-net in his mouth, climbs over 

 into the enclosure and dives down, feet foremost, and brings up the 

 fish. Remarking once that the chambers were covered with netting, 

 I asked the reason, and was told that several kinds of fish threw 

 themselves over the sides when they found themselves in the snare ; 

 others climbed up the sticks and got over. Now, I can see you 

 laughing at the idea of a fish climbing. Such is, nevertheless, the 

 fact ; I have been told it by too many to doubt it, and I have seen 

 the species alluded to (a species of perch I think) travelling along 

 a hot dusty gravel road in the mid'-day sun. Its mode of pro- 

 gression was by means of the pectoral and ventral fins, which are 

 armed with sharp spines. There is another, a marine species, 

 which climbs up rocks and trees growmg on the banks of the rivers 

 or in brackish water. I was often puzzled to account for this power, 

 till, hanng captured one, and placed it in a finger-glass, I found it 



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