278 BIRD-HUNTING 



to wander from one restaurant to another through 

 the long and weary day. How sick I used to get 

 of them ! 



Immense numbers of sturgeon are caught here. 

 There was one huge building nearly full of them 

 packed in frozen snow. They were being dis- 

 patched to Tulcea in wagons. They are caught 

 by buoying large hooks on a chain, against which 

 the great fish come and scratch their backs and 

 rub themselves, with disastrous results. It seems a 

 curious method, but there is no doubt about its 

 success. 



I used sometimes to wish I had brought a fishing- 

 rod and strong tackle. I believe that in this 

 lower Danube fine sport could be had. Some of 

 the fish run to immense size, five and six feet long. 

 Along the banks one constantly passes willow- 

 branches firmly stuck into the bank, generally at an 

 eddy at a jutting corner. From the end of this 

 rod dangles a hook, like a meat-hook in a butcher's 

 shop,. at the end of a stout cord like a clothes-line. 

 The bait, I believe, is a small fish. Sometimes 

 from the Danube steamers I have seen these set 

 rods buckling and bending with the struggles of 

 some unseen monster in the depths below ; but 

 though we passed hundreds on this boat expedition 

 I never saw anything caught. In fact, the hook 

 was always unbaited whenever I was able to stop 



