Page:Aboriginesofvictoria01.djvu/282

200 the shore, drawing with them the two ends of the net and all the fish that happen to be within its range. As soon as they near the shore, they bring the two ends of the net to the land, fix them there, and are then able to pick up and throw ashore all the fish that are in the net. Some of the more active fish escape by leaping over the upper edge of the net, and some of the mud-loving and crafty wriggle their way under the lower edge; but there is always a sufficiency of fish to reward the natives for their labor."

"The Narrinyeri make fishing-lines and twine from two kinds of fibre. One is a bulrush which grows in the scrub; the other is the root of a flag or bulrush which grows in fresh water, and is called Menungkeri. The rushes or roots are, first of all, either boiled [?] or steamed in the native oven, and then chewed by the women. A party of them will sit round the fire and masticate the fibrous material by the hour. While they do so, the masses of fibre which have been chewed are handed to the men who sit by, and they work it up, by twisting it on the thigh, into hanks of twine, either stout or fine, according to the purpose to which it is to be applied. Others receive the twine as fast as it is made, and make it into nets. They wind the twine on a short stick, which is used as the netting needle. The only measure of the size of the mesh is the finger of the netter, and yet their nets are wonderfully regular. The stitch is exactly the same as ours, but it is taken over and towards the netter, instead of under as we do. They make lengths of this net about four feet wide, and tie straight sticks of Mallee across it, to keep it open; then a number of lengths are tied together, end to end, and it is used for catching fish or moulting ducks, in the usual way."

"Some nets are furnished with a bag or pouch of netting, with smaller meshes placed at one end of the net, into which the smaller fish are driven as the net is hauled in. When the fish approach the shore, the natives enter the water with the net, and swim about until they get the fish between themselves and the shore; they then spread out the net, those on shore directing them, so that they may enclose the fish, and, as soon as this is accomplished, they are drawn to the shore."

3. By spearing.—Various kinds of spears, as figured and described in this work, are used for taking fish of all kinds, both in the sea and in fresh water. The natives are very skilful in all sports, as already stated, but in using the spear in fishing they are astonishingly expert.

Sir Thomas Mitchell describes a fishing scene on the Darling. He says:—"There was an unusually deep and broad reach of the river opposite to our camp, and it appeared that they fished daily in different portions of it in the following manner. The king stood erect in his bark canoe, while nine young men with short spears went up the river, and as many down the river, until, at a signal from him, all dived into it, and returned towards him, alternately swimming and diving; these divers transfixing the fish under water, and