KRUUSE FISHERIES OX WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA. 521 



they cast their nets, and are then obliged to keep a constant watch for 

 the seals ; when these approach, they haul in the net, take out the fish, 

 and cost again. Thus the night is passed; towards morning the fisher- 

 men go on shore, sell their fish, mend their nets, and then first can thiuk of 

 taking a little rest in iteir small cabin. 



This is the way in which these men pass their lives ; and it may well 

 be called a hard way of earning one's bread, for, although they generally 

 catch a good many fish, the profits are very small. Some of them, how- 

 ever, have prospered, own several boats, and go in partnership with 

 others. There is never any lack of such, as there are always many Italian 

 sailors in the principal seaports of the west coast of South America; and 

 all of them have a great liking and talent for fishing. Their nets are 

 made of the strong hemp which grows in these regions, and whose 

 threads are almost too thick, according to our notions. The size of the 

 meshes varies according to the kind of fish which they wish to catch. 

 They always make their own nets and furnish them very prettily with 

 round floats. Everything must always be in good order on account of 

 the frequent casting and hauling in, owing to the danger threatened by 

 seals. Everything in the boat is prepared with this view. The ship- 

 board is furnished with rollers over which the lines of the net may be 

 drawn with great ease, and these men possess an almost incredible dex- 

 terity in casting and hauling in their nets. They generally have a gun 

 in their boats to shoot or scare off the seals and sea-lions ; but this is 

 not of much use, as these animals are too numerous and care very little 

 for shooting. The best way is to haul in the net and take out the fish 

 as soon as seals are in sight. Old people, and those who can only afford 

 to have a small boat, occasionally fish by day-time quite close to the 

 coast, generally with nets having very narrow meshes, which they place 

 in a serpentine line as near as possible to the breakers. As soon as one 

 end of the net, measuring about 60 fathoms in length, has been put in 

 position, they row immediately to the other end and begin to haul it in; 

 and thus they go on a whole day ; for the seals come close to the coast 

 and are on the alert both day and night. Near the coast they catch a 

 beautiful little transparent fish, which is in great demand, and which we 

 do not have in Denmark. It is called " pega-rej^ i. e., "the fish-king," 

 and is so transparent that every bone can be distinctly seen ; it has a 

 beautiful shining silver color. Ovster-fishing, as far as I know, is only 

 carried on near the island of St. Lorenzo, which forms the bay of Oallao, 

 but there is no doubt that rich oyster-beds are found in many other 

 places along the coast. As I have mentioned before, their number is 

 enormous, but the price which oysters fetch is very small. The Italians 

 continually use long poles, partly for chasing the fish into the nets and 

 partly for keeping off the seals and sea-lions. These poles resemble 

 those which our fishermen use in the Limfiord. 



As is the case everywhere these fishermen have to work hard to earn 

 their daily bread, and their enjoyments are few in number. But I must 



