Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/363

Rh any other kind of fishing during the hunting season. The sea-hogs are during this period found proceeding in large shoals backwards and forwards between the East Sea and the Cattegat Straits. The fishermen must manage to drive these shoals into the so-called Gamborgfjord south of Middelfart. The hunt is rather troublesome, and is carried on by twelve boats, each containing three fishermen. The boats, upon the signal being given of a shoal of porpoises being in sight, move a little further out into the sea and then return, driving the whole herd into the little bay, each man vigorously lashing the water with a hazel-rod or a beech-branch, some 10 ft. to 1 2 ft. in length. The boats then draw gradually closer to the shore, and as soon as the porpoises have been driven into the Gamborgfjord, spread out the largest net — made of common twine, 120 fathoms in length, and with a width of 120 three-inch square meshes — fastened by one end to the shore, the other held by the furthermost boat. The net, kept extended in the middle so as to form a half-circle, is then slowly drawn shorewards. A smaller net, of 60 fathoms length, made of double twisted hemp-lines, is next spread out after the porpoises have entered the shallow water. The shoal being thus caught and too frightened to make any attempt to escape, the fishermen jump from their boats into the shallow water and drag the inner net to the shore, when the killing commences. The men take hold of the porpoises one by one by their broad tail-fins, land, and stab them in the neck with a long-bladed knife, the same as when killing a young pig. Very little grunting is heard, the "swine-fish" not making any resistance. Several shoals are sometimes thus caught in one day. Full-grown species weigh from 50 to 60 lbs., producing 30 lbs. to 35 lbs. fat or lard and 12 quarts of train oil, the refuse making an excellent manure. The sea-hogs, keeping close to the shores when moving, are known to be afraid of a clear gravelly bottom, and prefer turbid water, which makes the Gamborfjord the most suitable spot for this kind of fishing, the bay of the Fjord being narrow, with a bottom of a darkish colour, and everywhere covered with sea-weed, the favourite food of the sea-hogs. These facts account sufficiently for the Middelfart Porpoise Hunting Guild having been enabled to prosecute this pursuit so successfully during so many centuries.

— In the beginning of May I was paying a short visit to a friend at Dulverton, our special purpose being to look for nests of the Wood Wren, which is more common there than in any other part of Somerset. We were not, however, very successful ; but in the course of our search my friend pointed out a nest of the Common Buzzard, which we had seen last year, and from which he and his sons had then taken three eggs. There was also another nest close by,