170 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



the struggling fish, and as they came up he 

 lifted the catch aboard, when the construction 

 of the net was seen. 



Though in use on the reef, the cast-net is 

 probably of French origin. When spread out, 

 it is circular, the circumference being lined with 

 oval sinkers. At the axis of the net, supposing 

 it a circle, was an opening through which passed 

 eight cords that radiated to different parts of 

 the circumference. After passing through the 

 aperture at the axis, they joined and became a 

 single cord, of any length, that is held in the 

 hand when the net is thrown. When held up, 

 the net hangs like a closed umbrella without a 

 handle, and, when cast, falls like an open para- 

 chute. No little skill and practice are required 

 to make it fall perfectly open ; this having been 

 done, it will be seen that a few twitches at the 

 cord will tend to haul the different parts of the 

 circumference, which has now become the bot- 

 tom, up toward the axis, now the top, until the 

 fish are entirely encompassed and can be lifted 

 from the water completely enveloped in its 

 folds. 



