188 FISHING AS PRACTISED IX 



ings sufficient to let the fish pass through in going 

 up; and being narrowed at the other end, and 

 spiked in the form of a mouse-trap, the fish could 

 not possibly return ; four or five hundred are 

 caught weekly. Two anglers applied their lines, 

 with every variety of beautiful flies, but without 

 the least success. The trout, however, were not 

 so dainty ; several were hooked and landed. 



Barrow's Iceland. 



Fishing in Lapland. The water was very clear 

 at Hummerfest ; you may see every thing that 

 goes on amongst the fish. A few feet down you 

 will see the young cod snapping at your hook, if 

 you have one ; a little lower, the coal-fish and the 

 huge plaice and hallibut, on the white sand, at the 

 bottom. In other places, the star-fish, as large 

 as a plate, and purple and green shell fish, of all 

 sizes. The plaice is taken in the following man- 

 ner. In calm weather, the fisherman takes a 

 strong fine cord, to which he has fastened a heavy 

 spear-head, like a whale harpoon ; this he holds 

 ready over the bow of the boat, while another 

 person paddles it forward slowly ; when the fish 

 is seen at the bottom the boat is stopped, and the 

 harpoon is suddenly dropped upon him, and thus 

 the fish is caught. In two hours the fishermen 

 will get a boat load. The hallibut are caught with 

 hooks; they sometimes weigh five hundred Ibs., 

 and if drawn up carelessly, will overturn the boat. 



