SHRIMPS. 



189 



than the prawns, they will have the precedence. 

 Still, many so-called shrimps are really prawns, 

 and among them may be noticed the red shrimp, 

 as distinguished from the brown. The true 

 shrimps are called by the fishermen "sand-raisers," 

 and with reason ; for they have a habit of scooping 

 out furrows in the sand, and sinking into them 

 until hardly any portion of their bodies is visible. 

 And in doing so, they raise quite a cloud of 

 sand, which settles down again and assists in ob- 

 scuring their bodies. 



They are caught in peculiarly-shaped nets, 

 which are pushed along the bottom of the sea, 

 and into which the alarmed shrimps rush. The 

 shrimp net, however, contains many objects besides 

 shrimps or prawns, and it is useful to bargain 

 with a shrimper to put all his *^ rubbish" into a 

 basket and bring it back at the end of his short 

 but hard work. In this way all sorts of marine 

 creatures are captured, especially the smaller 

 fish, and various crustaceans. It is also a charity 

 to the shrimpers, for their work is severe, very 

 trying to the constitution, and badly paid. They 

 are mostly good-natured, honest fellows, always 

 ready to earn a shilliug, and can be made into 

 useful assistants as soon as they have got over 

 their astonishment at the value attached to the 



