64 UNDER THE OPEN SKY 



distance below that from which they started. 

 Here is a second windlass, and to this the 

 rope attached to the other end of the net is 

 now tied. Horses are harnessed to the two 

 windlasses and the ropes are wound in 

 until the net is drawn up to the shore at 

 both ends. Since the boat landed, the 

 rowers have been sitting along the banks 

 waiting. Now they grasp hold of the net 

 and draw it in, piling both ends carefully on 

 the shore. Occasionally a shad that has 

 run his head through the meshes of the net 

 beyond the gill-covers, and then could not 

 withdraw it, is pulled up and taken out. 

 But the great majority of the fish are simply 

 trapped in the semicircle enclosed by the 

 net, and as this grows smaller the water 

 begins to be rippled and ruffled by the fins 

 of the fish swimming about in the narrow 

 space. Their pen grows smaller and 

 smaller until the water fairly boils with the 

 struggles of the captives, and the harvest is 

 at hand. One by one the fish are thrown 

 back on the sand, where they lie gasping. 

 All sorts of strange debris come up with the 



