292 APPARATUS FOR FISHING. 



of beach on which the net can be landed. It is employed 

 in precisely the same manner in fresh or brackish water for 

 salmon fishing within the mouths of rivers. As might be 

 expected from its antiquity, it is used in almost all parts of 

 the world, and in some countries is made of such a large size 

 as to occupy two hours or more in making a single haul. 



The ^casting-net is another very ancient implement of 

 fishing, and although in this country it is little employed 

 except in fresh water and for the purpose of catching small 

 fish for bait, it is well known in many parts of the world, 

 and we have often watched the native fisherman on the 

 Ceylon coast advance almost waist-deep in the sea, and 

 then throw his net into a heavy breaker as it curled over 

 on the shore, and catch eight or ten fish of perhaps two or 

 three pounds weight each of a kind that delights in those 

 great rolling seas which month after month keep up a 

 continuous roar on that stormy coast. The net is a 

 circular one about sixteen feet in diameter, weighted with 

 lead all round the margin, and it is thrown in such a 

 manner that although, when ready for casting, it is held by 

 the centre and the sides are all folded together, the act of 

 casting, when skilfully done, spreads the weighted margin 

 into a circle which covers a considerable space as it falls, 

 and then the weights bring the edges together and are 

 drawn close so as to secure whatever fish may have been 

 covered by the fall of the net. In some nets the edges are 

 brought together by means of a line ; but the native 

 fisherman has no fear of wetting his skin he has little 

 clothing on such occasions to think about and boldly faces 

 the breakers, springing up as the sea threatens to take him 

 off his feet and gathering in the net with his capture as 

 if it were as in fact it is with him a most ordinary 

 proceeding. 



