New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
PLOUCHING THE SEA.
FISHING ON HORSEBACK ON THE COAST
OF BELGIUM


From The Wide World Magazine
had met FrenchInen who went out shooting
on horseback, and, though they did not bring
home very satisfactory bags yet they COntriyei
10 secure a certain amount of exercise II
leisurely way, avoiding all the tedium Of tra1!ps
from covert TO covert the mOTasses OF mud in
ploUghed fields and various other drawbacks
But, until l went 10 Flanders the other DAY. /
had never heard Of fishing on horseback. In
deed, the idea sounded supremeIy ridiculous at
the first blush. However on closer Investigation
l discovered a strange and very interesting
sport which has existed the Flemish coast
during many generations, and may be relied
upon to amaze any orthodox disciple of Walton.
All along the edge of the North Sea shrimpinE 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 10 wade out TO sea. or else
drift about in small boats. and rake the bottom
or the sea with their nets. But il is not thus
that the best shrimpS TO be obtained. The
WadeFs, pushing nets in front If them by means
OF poles, cannot go out into deep enough water
with sufficient vi%or. That. at least is the cpfn-
ION OF the fishers on horseback; but the others
retort that fishing on horseback is mere CLEAN
ing. and does not bring in a return sufficient
70 compensate for the keep of horses. Be this
as il may the old practice is exceedingly fas-
clnatlns 10 watch. and trust that it may never
be suffered die out.
When YOU SEE the fisherman careering along
remote and solitary beach. with his greet wing
like nets stretching out on either side Of his
crupper, you are disposed to hail him as Dr.a
QuiXote returning from a successful tilt az the
wlndmiIls However, in the neishborhood of
NieUport he presents a very familiar figure and
even such cons. rvatiy.- tIIras as coIye do not
seem at all disconnected by the sight Of him
The process of saddling his horse for the FRAY is
len-thy one. First he adjusts thick pack.
padded out with straw. on either side of this
ar" large panh rs. destined 70 receive the catch.
Til" traces for dragging the net are attached 70
I'c CoI'dr IN me "rdlh'tTy way ana the net itself
= posed peh'lld the pack An extra basket is hung
on 10 the side hy 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 life
time. for there Is not too much spare
an.d such elaborate paraphernaIia-
nets behind them that the poles shall keep
their mouths widely omen and ride ont ~ saa
When they reach the proper distance they turn
around and proceed up and down. dragging
their nets parallel 10 the shore They VIII have
drawn lots for their places. the one who is
iuIth'St Out 70 sea catches the most fish They
are great smokers. and consume an in1rdinate
number of strong cigars while they are fishing
For some four hours. while the tide is going
out hey plough the sea" covering a very long
stretch before they tu-n back and proceed over
the same furrow. where the tide viii have set
out a fresh supply IF rsh meanwhile Wher the
time comes to turn the nets getting heavy
as may De seen from the tautncss Of the ropes
and th- horses Increasing difficulty 70 proceed
Then the iShers com" back ~ shore and deposit
their t1kIuES IN g!istt ttninS piles. when each one
has Laid out his FISH upon the shore he sets out
70 sea again. and the advance in line is re-
sumed But The men have now changed places
the one VINO was oatsiie now riding along near
rst Z" IN" shore" This change happens At every
turn that each may have his fair chance II
n" hist drauShts II Is curious sight when
they forging along I'm the open sea. They
often go so far olt that their horses are obliged
L. raise their hes - very high 10 enable them 70
breathe Now and a-ain rough day "A wave
will c.no along ami completely SuhnerEc both
horses and ri irrs FOR several seconds. However,
IN Nh" interests Of good fishing it IS necessary -
v,ntur- rs far out as possible 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
10 fin their TaUui.rS from the heaps they have
collected on the shore. Here the smaller basket
comes IN useful II - Interesting u remark the
specimens II breed or horse which is certainly
unique old prints and potteries prove that in
old DAVIS this form If fishing practiSed all
along the coast of Flanders Now il only
wives NJ Nlcuport, CoXrlde and few n-ighbOr-
iuL CoumUueS- II is certainly very ancient. and
tho effect OF this unnatural TX rrse upon many
I generations ~ horses is very interesting 70
-I-.Itsp..u The animals are usually hardy and
vigorous. tn ir coats are allowed 10 grow very
this k and their Intelligence is highly developed.
All sorts of stories told about the extraordi-
nary saS1city they display both in ana out OF
the sea Their nccks unusually short and
thick set.