INTBODTJCTION. 



feet on the ground he turns the upper part of his body away from the water and then 

 swings smartly back again, releasing the net from his left hand, as shown on 

 the photograph. The impetus gained by the swing carries out the free portion of 

 the net and at the same moment he lets go the rest of the net and the cord which 

 is held in his right hand, except the end, which is, of course, retained. If the net 

 is properly thrown it should fall on the surface of the water in a more or less 

 complete circle. The net is now allowed to sink to the bottom and is then carefully 

 drawn in, the fish are taken out and the water squeezed out of the net, which is 

 gathered up for a fresh cast. This form of net is most efficacious in shallow water, and 

 if it is muddy so much the better, as the fish are not frightened by the shadow of 

 the net as it is being cast. When the water is clear satisfactory results are often 

 obtained by using it at night. Before casting, the fisherman sometimes throws in a 

 large stone or strikes the water with a stick, this often having the effect of attracting 

 fish to the spot. 



Two other forms of casting-net are in use, chiefly on the lakes of the Delta. The one 

 generally used on Lake Borollos is known as " shabak-el-houn," or simply " shabak," 

 the words " bil masarine " being sometimes added to distinguish it from the ordinary 

 " torraha." On Lakes Edkou, Mareotis, and at Rosetta it is called " shabak." The only 

 other place where this net is in general use is on the Blue Nile. One of these nets 

 measured 60 feet in circumference and had a f-inch mesh. The weights round the 

 edge are about 1 inch apart, seldom as much as 3 inches. In the centre of the net 

 is a small wooden ring, through which pass six cords which are attached to the edge 

 at equal distances apart. About 3 feet above the ring all the cords are attached to one 

 strong cord (see fig. 1, a). Each of the main cords has two others attached to it about 

 6 feet from the edge of the net, and there are other attachments, making 54 in all, 

 thus greatly strengthening the net in case of large fish being enclosed (see fig. 1, b). 

 This net is cast in exactly the same way as the one previously described, but it is 

 rather more difficult to manipulate owing to the tendency of the numerous cords to 

 become entangled as it is being hauled in. 



The third kind of casting- net is much smaller and resembles the ordinary "torraha," 

 but without pockets or cord ; it is used on the lakes for catching single fish such as the 

 " Bouri " (Mugil cephalus), especially at the time when the gravid females are leaving the 

 lakes in order to spawn in the sea. Near Gemil on Lake Menzaleh, at certain seasons, 

 one may see numbers of men and even quite small boys moving about cautiously in 

 the shallow water with one of these small nets on the right arm. As soon as a fish, a 

 gravid Bouri, for choice, is marked, one of them proceeds to quietly stalk it, and as 

 soon as he has approached as near as he thinks the fish will allow, he deftly casts his 

 net in the desired direction, sometimes a distance of 4 or 5 yards from where he 

 stands, and as often as not his skill is rewarded. The neatness with which some of 

 the boys throw this net is most interesting to watch. 



