TURTLES AND TURTLE-CATCHING 



The South Americans employ a seine long enough to 

 reach almost from one side of a narrow pool to the other. 

 The bunt is unusually deep and often has a tow-rope 

 to it, so that it may be used exactly like the tuck-seine 

 of the pilchard-fishers ; i.e. both perpendicularly and hori- 

 zontally. It is corked above, and lightly weighted below. 



With the exception of two, all the hunters stretch 

 themselves round the pool as far as possible, getting as 

 close to the water's edge as the marshy banks will allow ; 

 and with sticks or poles beat the tufts of grass and rushes 

 in order to frighten any of the turtles that may be 

 lurking there into open water. Meanwhile the two other 

 men have each got into a canoe, carrying the seine 

 between them to one end of the pool and there shooting 

 it, the canoes gradually separating till the net is fully 

 extended, the bunt-line if used being joined to a 

 longer one which is thrown ashore. As soon as the net 

 is in readiness the knocking and howling on the banks 

 is increased, and goes on for perhaps two or three hours, 

 the canoemen meanwhile paddling as gently as possible, 

 a stroke now and a stroke then, towards the far end of 

 the pool. As the net becomes nearly full they pull more 

 sharply, and when at last they can no longer stir it they 

 throw the tow-rope to their mates on the banks, leap 

 to land, and all pull together, drawing the net into bag- 

 form and pulling it high and dry. I have heard that 

 oxen are sometimes used for the towing, but cannot say 

 how far this is true. 



Now everybody gathers round the opening of the net, 

 which is disposed in such a manner that only one or two 



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