The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-01-16

Of enormous length, In fastened, one
end 20 the shore and the other right
out At sea. This great rope floats on
the surface of the water, being
buoycd up all the way, and che sea
| end kept In its place and firmly hxed
by means Of immense anchors and
claims.
"From this floating cable hangs yer.
.ticnlly down along It's entire length
Fan enormous net, weighted at its low
| er edge with lead, forming. as IL were,
a great curtain reaching almost to
the bottom of the sen.
the funny Is very tender, and he
I avoids touching anything u he can
srlp IL. He, therefore. as he swims
along. comes upon this net or cur
tain. stopping his progress. His sus.
picions nre aroused, md he coasts
along at respectful distance. This
of course brings him To- the outer end
cr arrangement, he would Of course
simply turn the corner and be free:
but provision IL made for this.
"From this end of the great cable
another one. with similar curtain
ar net hanging from II, turns n right
angle. and. after going for n certain
distance. turns again, and Is brought
back almost to the the first cable.
inclosing thus hugh oblong square
running out sideways from the sea
end of II. with an entrance forming a
great cage.
This oblong square Is subdividcd
80 MS Ia form n series or suite of
rooms as they are called, each with
nm opening from one to the other,
which-by an ingenious contrivance
of nets which can I've let down or
drawn up-csn be closed or opened at
plensure.
'''rhc last room In this oblong
square IN called the camera della
mortc, or chamber of death. and has
inside the curtain or net common Ia
all the others an inner and far strong.
rr net. This inner net has n bottom
to II. and hangs down like an immense
bag. with. of course. an opening on
door In II at the side.
"This last chamber In always kept
closed till the day for fishing arrives
Now, then. you will zee that the fish
come along as I said, find the opening
Mt the end Of the first cable and enter
In, and when there are what nre con
sidcred enough, the outer door !,
shut and they are prisoners"
AZ this moment, one Of the sailors
who had been carefully scanning tn,
still distant coast, jumped up excited
ly and said:
"Why. they are going To begin n
Porto Scuso!" (anothcr fishcry) ~
we are quick we shall he just !,
time!"
So we altered our course according
: ly.
~ must just add" said Mr.. Armc
nio. III have not already wearisd yo'
, too much. one or two more facts. Th
: entire control Of each fishery IL in tn
hands Of one man. the capinin--o
4 rcis. as he IL cnllcd--whose word !
, law. And Il In he who directs tn
! opening ar closing Of the chambers
: who peers down into the depths q
the sea. and watches the shoals, cac
= individual fish In appearance not lnrg
, cr than a mans hand"
: by this time we had arrived at on
/, destination. and found crowd a
: boats Of various sizes, moving aroun
y u vast square. formed by the befor,
described floating cable, and being, !
- fact, the "chamber OF death"
Inside Of this great square was
:" very small boat. with two men In 1
one rowing. the other leaning owe
e the stern. with his face almost toucf
q ing the water.
e This latter was the rcis, or captain
on whom all eyes were fixed. lie ga,
signal. and the entrance to III
r chamber was shut; the boats wei
then all arranged. broadsidc al
d around. So as completely To close
al the square. two Of these boats-ir
=. mrnsrly long. without decks. and d
ii vilcd into compartments, or room
Ic ms they ure called being placed 81 |
to take up the whole of two side
,r facing each Orhcr. each compnrtmc'
Il. ar room being occupied by seven me
,c each man armed with long lane
,r like pole. having at it's end gre
hook, with an exceedingly sha
~ point. The other two opposing sid
of the square are also In the soi
nv way hemmrd In with boats filed wi
r. men these, however, having no wei
H. ons.
ks The men IN the small boat go rou
r. and round. still peering into I
is depths; the captain gives n sign
and the unarmed men begin SLOW
II dragging up the great net, standi
,u for this purpose In u line all nlo
a the gunwales Of their boats. This ~
u ON for long time. without the s.
,c- face of the water showing the sllg
We est disturbance.
ls. II IL hard work for the men n
ir. the captain keeps moving round a
rp round. encouraging some and abusi
'th Others Presently slight, "
,iy slight. rippling or disturbance of
ed surface takes place. 1t is the p'
Ins fishes cnrccring round aud round, y
,sc at great depth. hut gradually ris
ne with the net. Now there IL gr
m. cleaning flash across the water,
To up comes fish.
Is II n funny? No. only sw
tie fish who has got into bad compa
and who evidently, from his efforts
"A | .l... ,,nt ut all ralish his N