176 FISHING AS PRACTISED IN 



Extraordinary Fishing in Cirenitz Lake. . 

 None of the curiosities of Germany are more sur- 

 prising than this lake in Carniola. It is four or five 

 miles long, and two miles broad, the most wonder- 

 ful circumstance is its ebbing and flowing in June 

 and September, when it runs off through eighteen 

 holes, which form as many eddies or whirlpools. 

 Valvasor mentions a singular mode of fishing 

 in these holes, and says that when the water has 

 entirely run off into its subterraneous reservoirs, 

 the peasant ventures with lights into that cavity, 

 which runs into a hard rock, three or four fathoms 

 under ground, to a solid bottom ; whence the 

 water, running through small holes as through a 

 sieve, the fish are left behind, and caught, as it 

 were, in a net provided by nature. On the first 

 appearance of its ebbing, a bell is rung at Cire- 

 nitz, on which all the peasants in the neighbour- 

 ing villages prepare for fishing at these ebbings. 

 An incredible number of pike, trout, eels, tench, 

 carp, perch, &c. are caught. Smith's Wonders. 



Fishing -Bird of China. This bird is about as 

 large as a heron. The Chinese fishermen train these 

 fowls to catch fish, and to bring it to them ; they 

 are as tractable as hawks used to be in England. 

 They perch on the sides of the boat, and at the 

 word of command dive for their prey, and bring 

 it into the boat, and so continue until the fisher- 



