xxxu INTRODUCTION. 



channel, which divides into two branches soon after entering the lake. Daring June 

 and July large numbers of fish make their way down these channels to the sea for the 

 purpose of depositing their ova. In August there is a marked decrease, but I was 

 told that in September, when the Nile had risen and affected the lake, large quantities 

 of this species were taken full of roe. The great object of the fishermen is to 

 intercept the shoals, and everybody works as hard as possible. Two boats are 

 stationed, one in each channel, about a quarter of a mile from the outlet, in order to 

 give timely warning of the approaching shoals. When the fish are seen to be coming- 

 down in any number a white flag is hoisted on the boat, and the man on the look-out 

 at the fishing-station gives notice of the fact by loud shouts. In a moment the place 

 is in an uproar, twenty-five or thirty men and boys dash through the water and 

 scramble into a boat which is kept ready with all the gear on board (PI. E). This is 

 rapidly propelled up the channel by means of poles, iive or six men a side, whilst 

 everyone shouts and calls on Allah and the prophet. In the wake and at the sides of 

 the boat may be seen several porpoises, which know from past experience that all this 

 excitement means a meal of their favourite fish. The porpoises may be seen in 

 numbers day and night, playing about near the entrance to the lake and up the 

 channels. The fishermen consider that they help to frighten back the fish and there 

 is a law against destroying them, notwithstanding the number of mullet that they eat. 



As soon as the shoal is reached the greatest excitement prevails, some of the men 

 leap into the water and drag out the net in a circle to enclose as much of the shoal as 

 possible, others hold the top edge of the net high out of the water to prevent the 

 frightened fish leaping over, most of them having to tread water to accomplish this, 

 as it is fairly deep. The man in charge shouts advice from the boat, but as everyone 

 else is doing the same, very little attention is paid to him. Numbers of fish jump the 

 net, but the porpoises are on the look-out and hunt them in every direction. As soon 

 as the two ends of the net are brought together it is hauled in and the catch shot into 

 the hold. On the occasion when I went out the catch was small, but vast numbers 

 are sometimes taken at one haul. 



Another important fishing-station which I visited is Matariyeh, which is situated on 

 the end of a peninsula running out into the middle of the lake. Nearly the whole 

 population is engaged in the fishing-industry and from their isolated position have 

 little intercourse with the outside world. The fishermen are of a different stamp to 

 those who w T ork on the Nile, being very independent in their manner and suspicious 

 of strangers. Various rumours had been spread as to the reason of my visit, one 

 being that I had come to buy the fishing on behalf of an English company, and every 

 obstacle was thrown in my way until I had gained the confidence of one of the chief 

 natives interested in the fisheries, a fairly well-educated Arab named Shaiaby Shenouie. 

 This man was of great assistance to me and often accompanied me on my excursions 

 on the lake and introduced me to the various fishing-parties, and this, with the gift of 



