Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/49

Rh in securing the fish, and who, taking them off the barbed point of the spear, passed the stalk of a rush through the gills, in order more conveniently to carry them home." Such a party is graphically represented in the above engraving, which is a fac-simile of an ancient Egyptian painting. The fisher is spearing the Booltee (Labrus Niloticus), while other species of the same genus, and a Mormyrus (Scrophicephalus longipinnis, .) are swimming beneath the boat, the latter easily recognisable by its lengthened snout.

Among barbarous tribes the fish-spear is a favourite instrument. The North American Indian watches at a hole in the ice, with which the surface of his mighty lakes are covered in autumn, and strikes the fishes that play beneath; or stations himself in summer in a rude frame over some narrow gorge, through which a torrent foams and roars, whence he spears the great lake-trout that are driven down by the rapids. In the South Sea Islands fishing with the barbed spear is a favourite amusement. Before the introduction of iron, the implement was made of hard wood; ten or twelve pointed pieces being fastened to the end of a pole eight feet long; but now iron heads are usually employed, barbed on one side. With these spears the natives proceed to the reef, and wade into the sea as high as their waists, their feet being defended from the sharp points of the coral, and the spines of the sea-urchins by sandals made of tough bark, twisted into cords. Stationing themselves near an opening in the rocks, they watch the motions of the fishes, as they shoot to and fro; and dart the spear, sometimes with one hand, but more