The National tribune., 1898-04-07
GIVE WERE NEARLY TowED UNDER"

eve WEIR
ticing them into some shallow pool where
they can be picked up and tossed on shore.
Many of these minor species, however,
are so well-toothed that they will not be
taken with any kind of civilized tackle
the caribe for example, who would cut to
pieces instantly anything short OF steel
and twisted wire.
On the other hand an ordinary pira-
rucu is as large as a shark, and could
break mans leg with a flap OF its tail.
Going after this sort of creature is not like
wandering along puriing brooks with an
assortment of artificial bats. One gets
into dugout padded by some savage,
and provides himself with harpoon. More
over, capturing reddish (pirarucu) proves,
upon trial, to be q tremendous undert al<ing
in a cranky canoe. The fish is not usually
sought where soundings are deep, as the
difficulties would be increased. Often in
midstream a reddish will flash its broad
side for an instant; then it is gone and
cannot be followed.
Along river bars, in food-water, or where
the bottom rises gradually, as is the case
with inlets generally, these fish frequently
get out of their depth; they swim among
shoals, where neither concealment nor
escape can be counted on with certainty.
Probably no one could say whether want of
caution in this species is due to stupidity,
or il food being much more plentiful and
easily procured in shadows than at greater
depths, natural vOracity does not for "a
time overcome the instinct OF Seif-preServa-
faI, H. loco
life as a consequence OF their action. The
specie s is plentiful, besides being very large,
and therefore has the two greatest recon-
mendations in a savage'S mind that any
kind OF game can possess. Although poor IN
quality, this food Is sought with eagerneSS
by men whose sense OF taste remains un-
developed, who take pleasure iii the ex-
element and boodshed attending this
sport and to whom redflShS size Sug
gests the prospect OF being able to idle
away another day or two without needing
to provide something 10 eat.
Our experiences with reddish began IN a
submerged forest where, il may be remarked,
many other varieties niue preferable to
this abounded. My dugout was padded by
wild Indian belonging to one OF the friendly
tribes, who, having been promised red
handkerchief, proved to be unusually ener-
getc and watchful.
After passing through the tangle Of vari-
Gus vines and thicketS that encountered
the surface, we threaded an encircling belt
of large trees, coming out into a small lake
an inundated hollow 1t really was. Here
my SWarthy companion assured me that
these big fish would certainly be found,
and that they were fools, and sure to get
themselves caught. 1t was not long be
fore the water loaned with a rush OF small
fishes flying from some concealed enemy,
and we headed towards this place. There
law a great reddish at the bottom. Most of
the suspended matter had been deposited
by the water in that still and shallow
basin, so its great, ugly head and broad
scales bordercd with scarlet could be
plainly seen 1t was fully ID feet long.
it lay perfectly quiet, and apparently I'm
conscious OF our presence.
But to see an object under water and be
able to strike it with an arrow or harpoon
are entirely different things.
While hesitating my practical savage
slowly moved his canoe until it lay out
side-that is, placed the fish between it
and the shoals beyond. Then taking up
handful of gravel brought for that purpose,
the Indian scattered 1t towards the shore,
making as much splash as possible. I'm
doubtedly, this was mistaken by the pira-
rucu for another school of small fish, for he
at once rose obliquely towards the surface
and when my harpoon was darted, ms
shoulders were not more than few inches
beneath it,
We'll was it now for us that the line
which made this monster fast would
stretch considerably without breaking and
that our canoe was steered by an Indian.
At the first wild rush we were nearly
towed under, while none other than zone
to the manner born" could have met those
turns, pIungeS, and leaps this powerful
and desperate creature made, without cap
sizing and as likely as not, there were
things below that one had better avoid If
possible.
Frantic efforts to get free, accompanied
by loss of blood, naturally produced ex-
haustion, and then came the ticklish opera
ton of stranding our prize, which was
much too unwieldy for us to think of get
ting on board. We nearly succeeded several
times: but ON each occasion the pira Tucu
darted away, and had to be, as it were,
coaxed back again into shoal water.
Finally its strength gave out. The
mud spit. and, after being thoroughly
drenched by its laundering, we got pur-
chase over q projecting limb, hauled up the
head and the fish suffocated in atmos'
pheTic air.
Upon returning with this. cargo, it was
bestowed upon the natives, who at Once
split open its back, took out the spine,
and then, having made some pretense OF
81 gaming it, cut off the flesh in large. thick
slices, rubbed them with salt, ard, as a
finishing process, laid them in the sun to
dry.
After undergoing such treatment as this,
the reddish finds its way into most settle
| ments along the AmaZons. Even Indians
do not eat much of it while fresh, and one
can easily imagine what such an article
of food is like when those Conditions under
which its curing takes place are remem-
bered. Sailing, no doubt, hardens the
fiber to some extent; but this coarse, i'll
favored meat is naturally soft and very
prone to absorb moisture; so that when I'M
perfectly sailed in a tropical temperature,