Note 44 — PREFACE. (continued 6)
Reading edition
12. Spearing. It is a long pole, three yards long, with a very sharp-pointed piece of iron44 half an arm’s length at one end. This method of fishing is not suited to those who do not know how to dive, but only to those who are long-winded in diving and know how to spear. A fisherman dives and stays down, and the way he stays down is by grasping the bottom with one hand, while the other holds the spear, watching for a fish to come around, and when it does come in sight it is speared; all kinds of fish in the ocean. The length of time it takes to stay down is about half an hour, but in case a shark is encountered, fully one whole hour may be taken in staying down in the deep. How wonderful!45