The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-09
PLOUGHING THE SEA.
Fishing on Horseback on the Coast
of Belgium.

From the Wide World Magazine.
had met Frenchmen who went out
shooting horseback, and, though they did
not bring home very satisfactory bags.
yet they contrived to secure a certain
amount of exercise in a leisurely way,
avoiding all the tedium of tramps from
covert to covert, the morasses of mud in
ploughed fields, and various other draw
backs. But, until 1 went to Flanders
the other day, had never heard of fish
ing on horseback. Indeed, the idea
sounded supremacy ridiculous at the
first blush. However, on closer investi-
cation 1 discovered a strange and very
interesting sport, which has existed on
the Flemish coast during many genera
tions, and may be relied upon to amaze
any orthodox disciple of Walton All
along the edge of the North Sea shrimp
ing is one of the chief industries of the
inhabitants, who supply Paris, Northern
France and the greater part of Belgium
with this dainty. Their ordinary method
is to wade out to sea, or else drift about
IL small boats, and rake the bottom Of
the sea with their nets. But it is not
thus that the best shrimps are to be
obtained. The waders, pushing nets in
front of them by means of poles, cannot
force their nets along with sufficient
vigor. That, at least, is the opinion of
the fishers on horseback; but the others
retort that fishing on horseback is mere
cleaning, and does not bring in return
sufficient to compensate for the keep of
horses. Be this as it may, the old prac-
tice is exceedingly fascinating to watch,
and 1 trust that it may never be SUI
fered to die out.
When you see the fisherman careering
along remote and solitary beach, with
n t4yin 10 1pfc str fnb frer ont
on either side of his crupper, you are
disposed to hail him as Don Quixote re-
turning from successful tilt at the
Windmills. However, in the neighborhood
of Newport he presents a very familiar
figure, and even such conservative crea-
lures as cows do not seem at all discon-
certed by the sight of him The process
of saddling his horse for the fray is a
lengthy one. First he adjusts thick
pack, padded out with straw On either
side of this are large panniers destined
90 receive the catch. The traces for
dragging the net are attached to the
collar in the ordinary way, and the net
itself is poised behind the pack. An
extra basket is hung on to the side by
its handle, and then at last the man
may mount. This is no easy business,
or would not be, save by the practice of
a lifetime, for there is not too much
room to spare amid such elaborate
psraphernalia.
Parties of three or six fishermen gener-
| ally meet at the edge of the sea, spread
out their nets behind them so that tho
poles shall keep their mouths widely open
and ride out to sea. When they reach
! the proper distance they turn around
and proceed up and down, dragging their
nets parallel to the shore. They will
have drawn lots for their places, as the
one who is furthest out to sea catches
the most fish. They are great smokers
and consume an inordinate number of
strong cigars while they are fishing. For
| some four hours, while the tide is going
! out they plough the sea-" covering a
very long stretch before they turn back
and proceed over the same furrow, where
! the tide will have set out a fresh supply
| of fish meanwhile. When the time comes
| to turn the nets are getting heavy, as
| may be seen from the tautness of the
ropes and the horses increasing difficulty
| to proceed. Then the fishers come back
to shore and deposit their takings in
! glistening piles. When each one has
laid out his fish upon the shore he sets
out to sea again. and the advance in
line is resumed. But the men have now
| changed places, the one who was out
size now riding along nearest to the
! sFore. This change happens at every
! turn, so that each may have his fair
! chance of the best draughts. 1t is a
! curious sight when they are forging along
| in the open sea. They often go so far
| out that their horses are obliged 90
raise their heads very high to enable
them to breathe, Now and again on a
/ rough day a wave will come along and
completely submerge both horses and
| riders for several seconds However
! in the interests of good fishing il is
| necessary to venture as far out as pos
sible. There is really little danger. and
! accidents are rare, particularly as horses
! and men alike are so much at home at
/ this craft.
When the days work is done the men
! proceed to fill their panners from the
| leaps they nave collected on the shore
] Here the smaller basket comes I'm useful
| Ii is interesting to remark the specimens
| CT breed of horse which is certainly
Lrique. old prints and potteries prove
that in old days this form of fishing was
practised all along the coast of Flanders
Now II only survives at Newport. coz
eide and a few Leighboring communes.
II is certainly very ancient. and the e.
feet Of this unnatural exercise upon
many generations OF horses Is very in
teresting 10 eportsmen The animals are
usually hardy anu vigorous; their COATS
arc allowed 70 grow very thick. ana
their intelligence h highly developed an
foris Of stories are told about the extrs-
ordinary sagaclty they display both An
ana out of the sea. Their necks arc
unusually short and thick set