THE GAME FISHES OF THE WOELD 



suddenly to one side, hurling the occupants off their feet and threatening 

 them with constant danger of an upset. The strength of the gamy crea- 

 ture, however, was rapidly failing, and as soon as the speed slackened the 

 men took the Une in hand and endeavoured to reduce the distance 

 between them ; but this resulted only in another furious burst of speed. 

 KnaUy the line was torn from the bowman's hand and it shpped over the 

 gunwale, and in a moment the water was pouring into the canoe. The 

 crew rushed to the other side, climbing up, and finally succeeded in shifting 

 the Hne and avertiag a catastrophe. The line was again manned and the 

 canoe slowly brought nearer the victim. After a long struggle the black 

 form was seen darting back and forth under the bow. The man at the 

 bow guarded the line closely, keeping it in the notch, while another native 

 stepped forward, and raising a long, three-tined spear, drove it with all 

 his force into the monster. The result was entirely unexpected. En- 

 raged or frightened by this new attack, the fish seemed to pause for a 

 moment, then rose into the air, and fell upon the stem of the boat, carrying 

 it down under water. As the monster fell, the crew, with the exception 

 of one man, sprang overboard, and swam for the shore ; but the man in the 

 end of the canoe cUmbed on to the roof of the cabin-Uke part. As one 

 end of the boat sank, he was lifted high in the air. The fish then, in its 

 terrific struggles, rolled off, and the boat settled, with the terrified native 

 still cUnging to his high perch. The fish was now striking the water with 

 his powerful tail, rolling over and over, winding the hne about its body, 

 and giving every evidence of its wonderful strength, and might ultimately 

 have escaped had not the party been followed by another canoe of natives, 

 who, having picked up the swimmers, made for the struggling lau lau. In 

 a few moments several spears and arrows had been sent into it, and it was 

 speedily dispatched. 



' When the sunken canoe was righted, it was found to be crushed in on 

 one side. The harpoon hues were made fast to the fish, and it was slowly 

 towed to camp and safely landed on the beach. 



' As the fish slowly rose and fell on the water behind the line of haulers, 

 it presented a remarkable appearance to our travellers. Nearly thirteen 

 feet in length ; it seemed much larger from its extraordinary bulk. 

 The upper surface was a rich greenish-black tint with a silvery white 

 below, the mouth and fins being a rich yellow. Its head, which was large 

 and flat, was protected by a strong bony plate that extended back to the 

 first dorsal fin. But perhaps the most unusual and curious feature was 

 the long, slender barbels, or whiskers, that depended from each side of the 

 mouth, giving the fish an extremely grotesque and forbidding appearance.' 



There are countless fishes in the rivers and their vast tributary 

 systems ; but among the natives, angling as a sport has a very 

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