igo 



Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. VII. 



usually taken in gill nets. These nets are about one to 300 feet 

 in length and about 6 feet in depth. A net is run out for about 

 ^ of its length along the edge of the Tules ; the ends are carried 

 at right angles into the Tules, forming three sides of a rectangular 

 enclosure. The fishermen then get between the shore and the 

 net, and drive the fishes with considerable vigor towards the net. 

 They appear to be easily gilled. The net is then taken up and 

 put out as a seine into the deeper water just outside the line of the 

 Tules, in the form of a circle. The boat is anchored to the Tules, 



Fishing for Mojarras, Lake Amatitlan 



the ends of the net are drawn to the boat, and the circle closed by 

 lapping the ends of the net. The fishermen slowly pull in the net 

 by the cork line, permitting it to gather in folds at each end of the 

 boat. Usually several fishes are gilled in this way, and are taken 

 out as the net is pulled in. The fishermen then move to another 

 place and repeat these hauls till a sufficient number of fishes are 

 taken. This species of fish is usually taken in daytime. It is said 

 that at night they go into deep water. The largest numbers are 

 taken during the months when they are breeding, for during this 

 time they are more easily caught. The practices of the fishermen 

 on Lake Amatitlan in taking this fish at all times of the year are 

 very harmful to their own interests, and would not be tolerated on 



