Bait and Grounds 409 



the "sword" he crept upon schools of small 

 sardines or "hard heads," which hugged the 

 shore, and which were intended to lure the gray 

 snapper to its death. Sighting a school, he 

 would drop the cast-net on the sands and wade 

 out into the water knee-deep, then coming 

 slowly in, apparently not moving, creeping upon 

 a brown spot six feet across, directly at the 

 surface. When within reach the cimeter was 

 raised, coming down with terrific force, cutting 

 through the school, and maiming thirty or more 

 fishes, all that were needed. At the upper end 

 of the lagoon, really the interior of a growing 

 atoll, where the water was shallow, the ripple 

 on the surface told of schools of mullets, and 

 the net was taken from his shoulders and 

 manoeuvred for several moments as he slowly 

 waded out in their direction. The cast-net 

 when spread out represented a circle from six 

 to ten feet in diameter. The circumference of 

 the circle was lined with lead beads or sink- 

 ers, each an inch in length, and from the cir- 

 cumference to the centre extended six or eight 

 stout cords which passed through an orifice lined 

 with leather; these met and joined; to this was 

 fastened another cord eight or ten feet in length. 



