July, 1907. Fishes of Great Lakes, Nicaragua — Meek. 115 



March, evidently depositing its eggs, when possible, in shady places in 

 shallow water. The natives capture these by placing small bushes 

 along the shore about three feet apart in shallow water. These 

 fishes come in large numbers into the shade of these bushes to deposit 

 their eggs. The natives draw their hand nets around the bases of 

 these bushes, catching from a few to a quart of these fishes at each 

 dip. The fishes are thrown into holes scooped in the sand. They 

 are then spread on the sand and left there until dr>', after which they 

 are ready for market. They are also eaten fresh as "white bait," and 

 are ven.^ palataV^le. 



FISHING FOR SARDINAS. 



Squier thus describes the fisheries in Lake Managua: "At one 

 point bushes were planted in the lake, Uke fish-wiers, between which 

 women were stationed with scoop-nets, wherewith they ladled out 

 myriads of little silvery fishes, from the size of a large needle to that 

 of a shrimp, which they threw into kettle-shaped holes, scooped in 

 the sand, where, in the evening Hght, leaping up in their dying throes, 

 they looked Hke a shimmering mass of molten silver. These Httle 

 fish are called Sardinas by the natives, and are cooked in omelets, 

 constituting a very excellent dish." "The first travellers in Nicaragua 

 mention this novel fishery as then practiced by the Aborigines, and it 

 has remained unchanged to the present hour." 



