190 BLACK FISHERS. 



siderably larger, and is in shape only half of a circle ; with 

 this he scoops out foul salmon during floods, when, from 

 weakness, they are unable to stem the current, and get 

 close under the banks. This he transacts very snugly, 

 under pretence of taking trouts ; so indeed he does, and 

 welcome too, if he would stop there ; but this he is per- 

 fectly averse from. 



Next in consequence comes your Triton, who walks 

 the waters with a long implement in his hands, namely 

 a leister, alias a waster ; with this weapon, " quocunque 

 nomine gaudet," the said deity, quick of eye and ready 

 of hand, forks out the poor fish that are spawning on 

 the streams ; and this in close time. Vile, vile Triton ! 



Then comes your lawless band of black fishers, so 

 called from their masks of black crape with which they 

 disguise themselves : these men come forth in the dark- 

 ness of the night to burn for salmon. When the winds 

 are hushed, you may sometimes hear the dipping of 

 oars and the clanking of a boat chain, and see at a 

 distance a small light, like a glow-worm. In a little 

 while the light blazes forth, and up rise a set of Othellos 

 who are about to take a private benefit. These 

 minions of the night are generally men of a desperate 

 character, and it is not easy to collect water bailiffs 

 sufficient in number or willing to encounter them ; but 

 if water bailiffs would fight, how very picturesque the 

 attack would be ! The rapids, — the blazing, — the 

 leisters, — the combatants driven headlong into the 

 river. Why, the battle of Constantine and Maxentius, 

 and the affair of the bridge, as seen in the famous 

 fresco, would be nothing to it. The only thing I should 



