303 PBOSE HALIEUTICS. 



blow. Like a startled horse in a high-fenced paddock, 

 the sword-fish now careered round and round the enclo- 

 sure, vainly seeking an exit by which to bolt, but finding 

 none, he backed a moment, then, swifter than thought, 

 rushed on the net, ran his long weapon through, and 

 made a large hole in the meshes; but becoming hopelessly 

 entangled, his fate was sealed, and death followed fast : 

 one lusty arm throws a heavy harpoon, and misses ; an- 

 other, with more steady aim, and a lighter missile, hits 

 and wounds the fish, who, staggered at the blow, flounders 

 from side to side, while the clear blue waves are stained 

 all aroimd with his blood; in a few seconds a dozen 

 barbed poles lie deep in the poor pipa's flank, and after 

 throwing up a whirlpool of discoloured water, as the 

 blows of the fishermen rain faster and faster upon their 

 victim, the crimson of the flood deepens, and in less than 

 a niinute from the first wound the gashed carcase of the 

 great scomber is poised up safely into the boat, with a 

 triumphant shout. ' Five scudi, my lads, for our share !' 

 exclaims one of the excited mariners, as they lay him at 

 last at the bottom ; and ' Bless the Virgin and St. An- 

 thony,' says another, ' there is not much damage done 

 this time to the net.-" ' Now, signor, we shall presently 

 see the thunny,' cried out our barcaroles; and accordingly, 

 as the sieve-like flooring of the ' camera deUa morte' was 

 drawn within a few feet of the surface, a mixed multitude 

 of large fish, chiefly of the scomber family, aU in violent 

 agitation at what they saw and heard (for the men were 

 now gaUy singing at the ropes), dashed and splashed 

 about, till the whole enclosure was covered -nith foam. 

 The work of slaughter soon commenced, and these great 

 creatures, despatched by blows, were hauled without dif- 

 ficulty on board the barge.* The chamber being now 



* Sometimes, we were told, when a very colossal tliuimy is 

 caught, one of the crew mounts his back, and will ride him, as 



