A NATURALIST. 71 



suddenly raised, and the captive placed in the boat. In 

 a quarter of an hour, I could generally take as many in 

 this way as would serve two men for dinner, and when 

 an acquaintance accidentally called to see me, during the 

 season of sun-fish, it was always in my power to lessen 

 our dependence on the endless ba'con. I could also always 

 select the finest and largest of these fish, as while stand- 

 ing up in the boat, one could see a considerable number 

 at once, and thus choose the best. Such was their abun- 

 dance, that the next day would find all the nests re-occu- 

 pied. Another circumstance connected with this matter 

 gave me no small satisfaction ; the poor blacks, who could 

 rarely get time for angling, soon learned how to use my 

 net with dexterity ; and thus, in the ordinary time al- 

 lowed them for dinner, would borrow it, run down to the 

 shore, and catch some fish to add to their very moderate 

 allowance. 



