Page:Handbook for Boys.djvu/317

296 The sturgeon is landed when the prow of the boat that has it in tow touches its proper base, even though the spear of the enemy is then in the fish: or it is landed when the. fish itself touches base. The boats change bases after each heat.

Matches are usually for one, three, or five sturgeon. Points are counted only for the landing of the fish, but the referee may give the decision on a foul or a succession of fouls, or the delinquent may be set back one or more boat lengths.

Sometimes the game is played in canoes or boats, with one man as spearman and crew.

Rules. —It is not allowable to push the sturgeon' into a new position with the spear or paddle before striking.

It is allowable to pull the sturgeon under the boat or pass it around by using the line after spearing.

It is allowable to lay hands on the other boat to prevent a collision, but otherwise it is forbidden to touch the other boat or crew or paddle or spear or line, or to lay hands on the fish, or to touch it with the paddle or oar, or touch your own spear while it is in the fish, or to tie the line around the fish except so far as this may be accidentally done in spearing.

It is allowable to dislodge the enemy's spear by throwing your own over it. The purpose of the barbs is to assist in this.

It is allowable to run on to the sturgeon with the boat.

It is absolutely forbidden to throw the spear over the other boat or over the heads of your crew.

In towing the sturgeon the fathom mark must be over the gunwale — at least six feet of line should be out when the fish is in tow. It is not a foul to have less, but the spearman must at once let it out ff the umpire or the other crew cries "fathom!"

The spearman is allowed to drop the spear and use the paddle or oar at will, but not to resign his spear to another of the crew. The spearman must be in his boat when the spear is thrown.

If the boat is upset the referee's canoe helps them to right.

Each crew must accept the backset of its accidents.

Tilting in The Water For this we usually have two boats or war canoes manned by four men each. These are a spearman, who is also a captain, a pilot, and two oarsmen.

The spearman is armed with a light pole or bamboo eight or ten feet long, with a soft pad on the end. Sometimes this is