Evening star., 1901-03-09
eOXYDONOR is recommended by
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sSsa 81 DIR. iii. Sanche & Co. DS: @s
nh5t st.

cannot go out into deep enough water. and
the boatmen cannot force their nets along
with sufficient vfgor. That, at least is the
opinion of the fishers on horseback: but
the others retort that fishing on horse
back is mere cleaning, and does not bring
In a return sufficient to compensate for
the keep of horses. Be this as it may the
old practice Is exceedingly fascinating to
watch, and l trust that it may never be
suffered to die out.
When you see the fisherman careering
along remote and solitary beach, with his
great. wing-like nets stretching out on
either side of his crupper, you are disposed
to hail him as Don Quixote returning from
successful tilt at the windmills. However,
In the neighborhood of Nieuport he pre-
sents very familiar figure, and even such
conservative creatures as cows do not seem
at all disconnected by the sight of him.
The process of saddling his horse for the
Tray is lengthy one. First he adjusts a
thck pack padded out with straw On
either side of this are large panniers des-
tined to 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 onto the side by its handle and then
at last the man may mount. This is no
easy business or would not be- save nv
the practice of a lifetime for there is NOT
100 much room to spare amid such elabo-
rate paraphernalia.
Parties of three or six fishermen general
iy meet at the edge of the sea- spread ont
their nets behind them so that the poles
shall keep their mouths widely open, and
ride out to sea. When the reach the proner
olstance 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
nsh1ng. For some four hours, while the
TIDE Is going out, they plough the sea"
covering a very long stretch before thew
turn Dack and proceed over the same fur
row, where the tide will have set ont :,
fresh supply of fish meanwhile. When the
tlme comes to turn the nets are getting
neayy as may be seen from sthe tautness
nculty to proceed.
Ihen the fishers come back to shore and
deposit their takings In gistenine niles
Wnen each one has laid out his fish upon
tne shore he sets out to sea again and thf
advance IN line Is resumed. But the men
nave now changed places, the one who was
outside now riding along nearest to the
snore. rms change happens at every turn,
SO 'nat each may have his fair chance of
the best draughts. 1t is a curious sight
"hen they are forging along in the open
sea Ihey often go far out that their
norses are Obliged to raise their heads
very hish 10 enable them to breathe Now
ana again on a rough day a wave will come
along ana completely submerge both horses
ana riders for several seconds However
III the interests of good fishing it is neces-
sary TO venture as far out as possible
Ihere 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 10 MI their panniers from the
heaps they have collected on the shore
Here the smaller basket comes in useful.
1t is interesting to remark the specimens
OF breed of horse which Is certainly
unique. Old prints and potteries prove
that in old days this form Of fishing was
practiced all along the coast of Flanders.
NOW 1t only survives at Nieuport. Cox
cide and a few neighboring communes 1t
Is certainly very ancient, and the effect of
this unnatural exercise upon many genera
tons OF horses is very interesting to sports
men, The animals are usually hardy and
vigorous; their coats are allowed to grow
very thick, and their intelligence is highly
developed. All sorts of stories are told
aDout the extraordinary sagacity they dis
play both In and out of the sea Their
necks are unusually short and thick set,