30 
“ Across a stick planted in the river bed a light piece of bamboo 
was tied, and at its further extremity was suspended a string 
carrying fish-hooks, Above these a broad piece of wood, 
suspended so as to be half in and half out of the water, acted 
as a float and spindle. Above this again were tied four large 
shells, so that when a fish is hooked the shells begin to jingle, 
and the fishermen hid in the bush, immediately rush out and 
rescue the fish.” 
Fishing Lines—of Lagos Native manufacture—of pine-apple 
or other fibre. 
Fishermen, as a rule, make their own lines of fibre or of 
imported thread. Ordinary pieces of stone are used fre- 
quently for sinking purposes when lead cannot be had. As 
anchors, stones are more frequently used than any other 
device, secured to the canoes by country-made rope of grass 
or fibre. 
On my return to England in April last I bought, as the 
steamer lay at anchor off the Kroo coast, a canoe con- 
taining also a specimen of a native fishing-pot and a 
specimen of a scoop or bale. Any wooden vessel with a lid 
may be converted into a fish-pot by the natives. The 
specimen I secured is nothing more than an American lard 
or biscuit box. 
Native scoops are used for baling out water, and compare 
with similar devices used by Indians and others elsewhere. 
Such implements are not invariably resorted to, however, 
on the West Coast of Africa, where the natives are very 
dexterous both with hands and feet. I have often seen 
them baling out a canoe in a most amusing manner with 
their feet—literally kicking out the water. 
The Kroo canoe alluded to is meant to accommodate 
one, and is a sample of the “dug-out” so common and 
universally known. 
