118 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



anchors of the Synapta as curious illustrations of the occurrence 

 in living organisms of forms which man was apt to fancy were 

 exclusively the products of his own contrivance and skill. 



" We presume that these hooks of the Hymedesmia answer 

 the usual purpose of spiculge in strengthening the soft tissue, 

 but they must likewise render the sponge an awkward article 

 for the Madeira sea-slugs to eat." 



For an account and figures of the Synapta anchor- spicules 

 see page 39. 



We now come to another modification of the hook. I pre- 

 sume that many of my readers have heard of the practice 

 called " snatching " fish, though I hope that they have never 

 been unsportsmanlike enough to follow it. 



This plan, which is only worthy of poachers, consists in 

 taking several flights of treble or quadruple hooks, dropping 

 them gently by the side of the fish, and then, with a sudden 

 jerk, driving them into any part of its body which they may 

 happen to strike. Most anglers have snatched fish accidentally, 

 but to do so intentionally is ranked among the worst of an 

 angler's crimes, and is equivalent to cheating at cards, or 

 playing with false dice. 



In some parts of the world, however, there are certain 

 small fish which are never taken in any other way, and, indeed, 

 are raked out of the water just as a gardener rakes dead leaves 

 off the path or beds. 



JAGUAR AND CLAW. 



FISH-RAKE. 



In British Columbia there are certain lakes tenanted largely 

 with small fish which form a considerable portion of the 



