Chap. VI. BARRACOOTA FISHING. u 183 
by some three feet of strong line, a piece of red wood 
four inches long, two broad, and one thick. Through 
the end of the wood a common nail was driven, and 
turned back so as to form a rude hook. On the ap- 
proach of the shoal, Worser thrashed the water within 
his reach with the bit of wood and the end of his rod, 
whirling it round with great speed. The manga soon 
leapt out of water, disputing with each other for the 
wooden bait. Dozens were darting at one time at the 
hook. When one was hooked, a dexterous heave flung 
him on the deck with centrifugal force, and the hook 
again thrashed the water. This way of angling 
requires much experience and quickness of hand. 
Worser, who was a renowned fisherman in all ways, 
caught upwards of a dozen fine fish in the few minutes 
during which the shoal remained near us. 
Just as it fell dark on the 20th, we rounded Cape 
Terawiti, with a freshening breeze from north-west. 
The skippper got very nervous when the squalls came 
whistling off' the high land about Sinclair Head ; and, 
ignorant of this coast, seemed to dread the long lines 
of black reefs with which it is fringed. We all, how- 
ever, supported Dicky Barrett in his earnest declara- 
tions that it was necessary to carry on ; and made all 
sail to windward. A fine moon, peeping every now 
and then through the driving scud, lighted us on our 
way ; and by daylight on the 21st we were beating up 
within Port Nicholson, close to Somes's Island. 
