Fishing For Flying Fish

Barbados, situated in theheart of the i northeast trades, is one of the favorito baunts of the flying fish. lts steep shore lines afford the blue depths which the flying fish loves and permit it to range very ïiear to land. Thus the fisnermen rarely go more than 10 or 12 miles from horne. When thia industry was first cominenced by the Barbadians, or what led to its establishment, I have been unable to discover, but it certainly haa been for many years the mainstay of a large part of the popula'tion and the source whence the most popular food known on the island is derived. There are about 200boats engaged in the fishery. ïhey are painted a light blue, as nearly approaching the hue of the sea as may be, and every care is taken to make thein noiseless. The fleet leaves the"canash" (harbor) before daybreak, each skipper taking his own hearings and making for the spot which he thinks vrill furnish the best resnlts. As the gorgeons tropical dawn awakes the boats' peaks are drooped, luffs of sails are hauled np, and the fishermen get to business. The tackle U8ed is of the simplest kind. A wooden hoop 3 feet in diameter, to which is attached a shallow net with inch ineshes ; a bucketful oí - well.not to put too fine a point on it - stinking fish, a few good lines and hooks and a set of grains forrn the complete layout. The fishermen are of all shades, trom a deep rich ebony up by fine gradations to the cadaverous v.-hite so common on the island. Their simple fishing costnme is nsnally one sole garment - the humble floor or potato sack of commerce, with holes cut in the bottom and sides, throughwhich tothrust head and arms. As soon as the boat is hove to and her way stopped the usual exuberant spirits and hilaiious laugbter are put and kept under strong restraint, tor a single sound will often scare away all fish in the vicinity, and no more be seen that day. The fisherman leans far over the boat's side, holding the hoop diagonally in one hand. The other hand, holding one of the malodorous fish before rnentioned, is dipped into the sea and the bait squeezed into minute fragments. This answers a doublé purpose - it attracts the fish, and the exuding oil forms a ''sleek," or glassy, surface all around, through which one can see to a great dapth. Presently sundry black specks appear far down, they grow ger and more numerous, and the motionless black man hanging over the gunwale scarcely breathes. As sood as a sufficient uumber are gathered he gently sweeps the net down ward and toward the boat witbal, bringing it to the snrface by drawing it up against the side. Often it will contain as many fish as a man can lift, but so quietly and swift is the operation pert'ornied that the school are not startled, and it very often happens that a boat is filled - that is, 7,000 or 8,000 fish- frora one school. More frequently, however, the slightest noise, a passing shadow, will alarm the school, there is a flash of silvery light, and the water is clear, not a speek to be seen. Sometirues the fleet will return with not 1.000 fish amona: tberu.