AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 85 



particularly if the ground fished over consists of bold 

 shelving rocks with plenty of overhanging slabs, 

 forming deep pools with clear sandy and shingly 

 bottoms. The true brown shrimp, or (as fishermen 

 call it) the sand-raiser, has the habit of darting 

 about on the sandy bottom and throwing up 

 clouds of fine sand, literally throwing dust in 

 the eyes of its enemies, and by so doing forms a 

 furrow in which it lies concealed, the falling sand 

 covering it and rendering discovery by its pursuer 

 exceedingly difficult. There are also red shrimps, 

 which are taken in immense numbers about the 

 mouths of many of our large tidal rivers. The shrimp 

 is exceedingly prolific, carrying its eggs about with it 

 until hatching time arrives. Several modes are had 

 recourse to for its capture ; some of the most usual 

 and successful it will be my duty to describe. 



In shrimping jn pools, inlets, and hollows among 

 the rocks, a net (vide cut, fig. 1) should be provided. 

 The bag is composed of strong netting twine, of fine 

 mesh, and the upper two rows of stitches formed of 

 double twine. The ring is made of iron slightly curved 

 upwards, and proportioned in size and weight to the 

 strength of the person who has to use it ; about six- 

 teen inches long by twelve wide, for the ring, will be 

 found a fair average size. It should be made flat and 

 about one inch and a quarter wide, with a groove on 

 both its upper and under surfaces, which must be 

 deep enough to completely bury a stout copper bell 



