CATCHING FISH. 
263 
The regularity with which they keep their relative 
positions, notwithstanding the current of the river, 
and the dexterity and order with which they dive 
under the water, are truly surprising to a person who 
witnesses them for the first time. 
At the period of floods, and when they have 
nearly attained their height, and the young reeds 
and rushes begin to shew themselves above the 
surface of the water, near the bank of rivers or of 
lagoons formed by the floods in the alluvial flats be- 
hind, another method of spearing fish is practised 
from a canoe (mun) made out of a solid sheet of the 
bark of the gum-tree (eucalyptus). 
To these reeds the fish are very fond of resorting, 
probably to feed upon the insects that are found upon 
the tender leaves ; in moving about from one place 
to another they strike against the reeds, and produce 
a vibration in the tops above the water ; this indicates 
to the native, who is sailing stealthily along in his 
canoe, the exact place where they are passing, and 
suddenly raising his arm with great energy he strikes 
forcibly among the reeds with his spear, without 
letting it go out of his hand. If the first blow does 
not succeed, it is rapidly repeated, and seldom fails in 
securing a prize. When a large fish is speared, it is 
pressed downwards to the ground, and the native leaps 
out of his canoe and dives to the bottom to secure it. 
The spear (moo-ar-roo) used in this method of 
fishing varies from ten to sixteen feet in length, and 
is made of pine, pliant, and of nearly a uniform 
