CAPTURE. 125 



In some places the net in question is only used during 

 the night-time ; and from the fisherman being aware that the 

 smelt, like the Salmo tribe is generally attracted by any 

 bright object, he makes large fires on the adjacent shores, the 

 better to lure the fish from the deeps to within the sweep of 

 the net. 



During the summer time, when the smelt holds to pretty 

 deep water, it is in some places captured by means of a net 

 called Sank-nat, or sink-net. This is circular in form, and 

 suspended from an iron ring of some six feet in diameter, 

 kept horizontal by a four-slip bridle. To the upper part of 

 this bridle is attached a stout line, or if the water be not too 

 deep, a pole of eighteen to twenty feet in length, whereby to 

 raise or depress the n6t. But this device, also frequently 

 adopted in Scandinavia for the capture of other fish, is not 

 very productive, and is seldom resorted to, except for the 

 purpose of procuring bait. 



In England the smelt visits our rivers only during its 

 spawning season; and until naturalists here had seen the 

 specimens that I brought from the Wenern, which they 

 pronounce to be identical in every respect with our own, 

 they seemed little inclined to believe it equally an inhabitant 

 of fresh as of salt water. But this fact being now proved, it 

 would be easy to introduce the smelt into our ponds and 

 lakes; and an admirable substitute it would prove for the 

 dace, roach, &c., with which at present they are for the most 

 part filled. 



Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, and according to Yarrell, 

 Colonel Meynell, in Yorkshire, have indeed not only made 

 the attempt, but up to the present time the experiment 

 has perfectly succeeded. In reply to inquiries on the 



