98 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



which makes the fishing very considerable. Sometimes again, though 

 but seldom, it has happened to be 3 or 4 years together full of 

 water, and then is the best of the fishing. But it never yet was 

 observed that this lake was dry for a whole year together. 



In this lake there are many pits in the shape of basins or caul- 

 drons, which are not all of the same depth or breadth ; the breadth 

 of them being from 20 to 60 cubits, more or less, and the depth 

 from 8 to 20 cubits. In the bottom of these pits are several holes, 

 at which the water and fishes enter when the lake ebbs away. In 

 the months of June, July, and August, when this lake begins to 

 draw off, it grows quite dry in 25 days, if no great rains intervene. 

 And the pits are all emptied one after the other, in a certain and 

 never.failing order of time. 



When the lake begins to sink, which appears by a certain stone 

 which they observe, the inhabitants of the town called Oberdorff 

 or Seedorf, give notice thereof to all the neighbouring fishermen, 

 that are appointed by the several lords having right in this fish- 

 ing. The people of this town have orders not only to watch the 

 fallin" away of the water, but likewise to take care that nobody 

 presume to fish in the lake when it is full of water, that being for- 

 bidden. 



The first pit, called Maljoberch, is only a depression ef the bot- 

 tom, without any holes in it ; but there grows much grass and weeds, 

 and many fish are caught there. Three days after the water begins 

 to ebb, this pit is emptied. Of this the parish clerk of Seedorf 

 gives notice by tolling a bell, and all the inhabitants of the town, 

 old and young, men and women, lay aside all other business, and 

 go to fishing, quite naked as they were born, without any regard to 

 modesty or shame. The fish they catch they divide in halves, one 

 part they give to the prince of Eggenberg, as the lord of the manor, 

 the other half is their own. The pit Velkioberch is emptied the 

 third day after Maljoberch, the manner and right of fishing as in 

 that. Four hours after this, the pit Kamine begins to empty ;here 

 they generally fish with a trawl, as in several other pits of lesser 

 note, having first purchased leave of the lord of the manor. Here, 

 as also in the pit Sueinskajamma, which sinks one hour after Kamiue, 

 are many fish caught, and abundance of large crabs, but they are 

 lean and of no good taste. The fifth pit Vodonos, dries five days 

 after Kauiine. In this and the other pits which follow, they fisk 



