THE WAY USED. 181 



When the Ryssja is used, the tail-stake is first passed 

 through its smaller extremity, and being stuck into the 

 ground, the net is then drawn out into its proper form. 

 Care must be taken that it be well stretched, as otherwise 

 the Ingangar have neither their right shape nor their proper 

 position. The line connecting the ends of the foremost hoop, 

 as well as the arms of the Ryssja, must lie closely and 

 evenly at the bottom. But with the arms this is sometimes 

 a matter of difficulty, and the fishermen therefore, instead 

 of stakes or of Spjalar, make use of forked sticks, which 

 answer the double purpose of pinning down the lower 

 telna, and of supporting the upper one. 



The ground where the Ryssja is set should be tolerably 

 even, and the water of sufficient depth to cover at least one- 

 half of the Ingang. But it must not be too deep, for should 

 it reach to about two-thirds the height of the Ryssja, and 

 should the latter be of considerable length, and not properly 

 stretched, it is very apt to rise from the bottom. Two 

 stakes placed crosswise over it, however, effectually prevent 

 this inconvenience. 



When the Ryssja is fixed in running water, the Ingang 

 always lies down stream. In still water it commonly faces 

 the shore. In the latter case, the single arm, or the central 

 one, if there are three (the other two standing obliquely), is 

 made to extend to the very strand. This precaution is quite 

 necessary, for during the spawning season pike approach as 

 near to the land as possible ; frequently, indeed, they swim 

 in such shallow water, that although keeping close to the 

 bottom, a part of their body is visible above the surface ; and 

 as at the spring season, the water may rise considerably during 

 a single night, the fish, unless this precaution is taken, may 



