THE FISHERMAN. 87 



the Indian has learnt to make spring hooks. A 

 flexible rod is stuck firmly into the bank and 

 only a short line is used. The rod being bent 

 well over it forms a spring, which is held in place 

 by a catch. Immediately the fish is hooked 

 the catch is loosened and the rod flies back, carry- 

 ing the fish well above the surface of the water. 

 These lines are generally set at night, and we 

 have seen a score at intervals in going up a creek, 

 some with fish dangling ready for the man when 

 he goes his morning round. At night the fishes 

 are attracted to particular spots by burning 

 torches, and in the day by collecting and throw- 

 ing in certain fruits which are well known to 

 suit their taste. 



Some of the Guiana fishes are very large and 

 cannot be hooked ; where they feed on water- 

 plants no bait can be manipulated to suit their 

 tastes. The largest is the arapaima, which is 

 said to attain a weight of four hundred pounds. 

 It is very beautiful, for every scale is margined 

 with red, and as the larger specimens have scales 

 an inch in diameter these red margins on a silvery- 

 green background are quite lovely. Their home is 

 about the rapids of the larger rivers, where they 

 feed, together with the pacu and several other 

 great fishes, on that curious family of plants, the 



