PURING THE PRESENT CENTURY. 291 



ANGLING IN SURINAM. 



The negroes of Surinam take their fish by implements 

 which may be denominated the spring hook and the spring 

 basket ; the first of which consists of a strong elastic rod 

 or pole stuck in the ground under water, and to the other 

 end of which are attached two lines of unequal lengths, the 

 shorter having fastened to it a small stick ten inches long, 

 and the other the same, but fixed lower; while at the 

 extremity of this line is hooked a small fish by the fins, 

 in such a manner, however, as to be able to swim to and 

 fro, and serve as a bait, for the larger species. Two long 

 sticks being next placed in the ground, so as to appear 

 above water, a third stick is laid across, forming them 

 into the appearance of a gallows ; above this gallows is 

 bent and fixed the elastic rod or pole, by means of the 

 double line and the sticks fixed thereon, as mentioned 

 above, but in such a manner that, at the least pull at the 

 bait, the apparatus gives way, the elastic rod instantly 

 assumes an upright position, and the fish that occasioned 

 the spring, by taking the bait, is immediately suspended 

 above water. The spring basket is upon a similar con- 

 struction. The basket is made of warimbo -reeds in the 

 form of a sugar-loaf, in the small end of which the elastic 

 rod is fastened, while at the other end is an open trap- 

 door, the whole being supported in a proper position by a 

 forked stick. No sooner has a large fish entered the basket 

 and taken the bait, than the elastic rod, as in the former 



