THE LJUSTER. 



203 



fish are sometimes captured by it. In one instance, to 

 my knowledge, a salmon weighing nearly forty pounds, 

 was taken with this contrivance. 



LJUSTER. 



The Ljuster, or fish-spear, is thought to be the most 

 ancient fishing device adopted in Scandinavia. The javelin, 

 the arrow, and the harpoon were the weapons used by the 

 Aborigines against the inhabitants of the flood and the field. 

 At the present day, indeed, the savages on the banks of the 

 Orinoco, who for the greater part of the year live on fish, 

 transfix them with shafts. The Ljuster is no other than the 

 harpoon of by-gone days, though in order that its aim might 

 be the more sure, the number of the points was increased 

 to three, this particular number possibly being looked upon 

 as holy, and in consequence lucky. As time advanced, and 

 people from desuetude became less proficient with the javelin, 

 it was needful to improve the devices then in use, as a 

 set-off to want of skill, and the weapon in question obtained 



