The Red Cloud chief., 1899-12-15

ermen singly could do nothing with
these fish, which grow to a length OF
ten feet and weigh over half a ton
sometimes. Therefore there Is a sys-
TEN OF cooperation on the coasts that
are visited by the funny, a system
which dates back to the Phoenicians,
who were great funny catchers In their
time. The perfection OF this system
is due, among other things. to the fact
that the big fish have absolutely regu-
lar habits. In normal times they can
be relied on to make their appearance
at certain periods almost to the minute.
When they come II Is In huge schools
that can be seen afar. for they scour
the waters like ships OF war, and the
leaplngs Of their prey and the leapings
of their OWL bulky bodies beat the
deep into white foam and lather.
Since they are so exact In their
habits. the fishermen prepare for them
always before they arrive. At some
designated spot are spread enormous
nets, exceedingly deep and made OF
the strongest of line. These are not
designed to catch the tunnies. They
are spread out merely to force the fish
to edge In and In. until they are led
to the real prison net, which is a vast
co%ntrivance. set In an immense square
and powerful enough to defy anything
that swims. AS soon as the last Of the
school has entered this box-like en-
closure. the sides OF the great net are
raised at a signal. At first the lmpris-
oned fish do not show any signs OF
inch. from the water depths, cleaning,
sword-like backs appear here and there
upon the surface darting with incredi-
BILE swiftness from side to side of the
net. Each instant more OF these living
blades appear above the surface. Then
the fish begin to leap. Here one
launches himself straight out OF the
water, 500 pounds of glorious life to-
ward the sky, to crash back into the
sea with a fiail-like blow OF sides and
tail that makes the ocean echo. Another
and another rises and falls back. Soor
the scene is as II the abysses of the ses
were spouting their inhabitants, fol-
hundreds of immense sllver-flashinl
fish rise everywhere at once within tn,
net.
But now a new element enters. Long
narrow fishing boats push into the in
closure. In them stand brown mel
with lances and spears and big knivet
dashed to poles. Then begins a fgh
that Is terrible to see. The men thrus
madly into the struggling masses o
fish. The fish leap and roll and div,
and leap again. hammering the Sc
with tails that turn like the screws O
steamships, and whiten the waves wit
foam. Before many minutes boats an
men are drenched with bloody water
The surface Of the ocean Is red. Out G
the smoking spray peer faces now an
then that are dabbled with BLOOD Il
they look scarcely human. Now an
then q mar slips and falls among IN
harried fish. Then there are lou
screams from his companions and erie
of duplication from him as he call
to his patron saint. for 1t Is no joke
fall among those mighty bodies tha
are dashing around In their deaf
>throes.
So the fight continues till In that In
closed space OF sea there is not q hs
alive. flvery boat Is half full OF waite
ana loaded down with living silver
where the slim, piratical bodies OF tn
ash Lie vhe inhabitants OF the tow
near the scene of this fishing make
fste day out of the arrival OF the tun