170 FISHING AS PRACTISED IN 



that fish and vegetables would be acceptable. 

 The next minute he provided himself with a cane, 

 armed at one end with a nail, and, to our surprise, 

 plunged into the sea ; here he continued floating 

 and swimming about, supporting himself in the 

 water with one hand, while with the other he 

 made use of his weapon among the finny tribe. 

 This was altogether a novel mode of fishing, but 

 not so to him, for in the space of two or three 

 hours he had caught six fine cavalloes, weighing 

 nineteen pounds, besides several smaller fish. 



Voyage of the Chanticleer, by Webster. 



In the Island of Arguin, in Africa, the Dutch 

 fish from January to July, and catch great quan- 

 tities of the fish named old maids, which weigh as 

 much as two hundred pounds, and which are salted 

 and dried in the same manner as cod, with this 

 difference they will not keep above seven months. 

 Golberry's Voyage in Afrique, vol. i. 



Winter Fishing for the Huso in Astracan. 

 Gmelin has related in a very lively way the solemn 

 fishing that takes place for the Huso, at the be- 

 ginning of winter, in the neighbourhood of Astra- 

 can, when these fish have retired into vast caves 

 under the sea-shore, which form their winter quar- 

 ters. A great number of fishermen assemble, over 

 whom are placed a director and inspectors, who 

 possess considerable influence and authority ; every 



