Part 33 (2/2)
INCURSION OF A BEAR--In the outskirts of the village of Paramo in the Province of Oviedo (Asturias) there has within the last few days made its presence felt an immense bear which continued to execute terrible destruction aers Fortunately the parish-priest, who is an expert shot, succeeded in killing the depredator It weighed 140 kilograms (= 300 lbs)--_April 25, 1908_ [Two others are recorded to weigh 400 and 440 lbs]
CHASE OF A SHE-BEAR--SANTANDeR, _February 1909_ Froe of the local peasantry,every kind of weapon, sallied forth, to give battle to a bear which for so their flocks and herds After traversing the mountains in all directions without result, they were already returning, dead-beat and disappointed, towards their village, when they suddenly descried the bear standing in the entrance to a cave On observing the presence of hunters, the animal disappeared within A shepherd na the interior of the cavern which extends far into the(_divisando_) the beast, Melchor gave it a shot--flying out hi on end (_encrespados_) at the roaring of the wild beast (_fiera_) Melchor, nevertheless, at once entered the den again and fired a second shot--ju out immediately thereafter After a short interval, the roars of the _fiera_ within having ceased, the hunters in a body entered the cavern and found an enor, alive, which they carried away
(Bravo, Melchor Martinez!)
(4) GAME-BIRDS OF CANTABRIA
Alike in its game-denizens with other physical features, Cantabria is differentiated fro rather to a north-European si the whole Biscayan range though nowhere nu to the density of thesebut fruitless rambles after bear we raised but four; that, however, was in spring when these birds are apt to lie close
In the Pyrenees (where the capercaillie is known as _Gallo de Bosque_) a certain nu in mountain-drives (_monterias_); but in the Asturias the pursuit of the _Gallo de Monte_ is effected (as in Austria and northern Europe) during its courting-season in May The system is well known The opportunity occurs at dusk and dawn, the stalker advancing while the lovelorninstantly when the bird becoan are found in the Pyrenees, but seem to extend no farther west than the Province of Navarre, which area also coincides roughly with the southern distribution of the hazel-grouse (_Tetrao bonasia_) though we had some suspicion (not since confirmed) that the latter e, unknown in S Spain, occurs all along the Cantabrian highlands up to, but not beyond, the Cordillera de Leon Here it descends to the foothills in winter, but is never found on the plains
A bird peculiar to this region, though not gareat black woodpecker, a subarctic species which we have observed in the Picos de Europa
ANGLING IN RIVER AND SEA[53]
Nearly all the Spanish rivers when they leave the sierras and dawdle through the plains degenerate into sluggish ed streams; but ht by ue on the Tha with fine but strong tackle, as the first rush of a barbel is worthy of a trout These fish average about one pound in weight, but in favourable spots, such as mill-tails, run up to 10 lbs and upwards
The Spanish barbel has developed one trait in advance of its English cousins, for it will rise to a fly, or at least to a grasshopper Owing to the abundance of these insects and of crickets along the river-banks in summer, the barbel have acquired a taste for such delicacies, and a hot June afternoon in Andalucia ”
beneath the trees that fringe the banks of Guadalete and sia_, a little fish of the roach or dace fa a quarter pound, will afford amuseal when trout are recusant The _boga_ is lured with a worut and smallest hook) from each little run or cascade, whence five or six dozens may be extracted in an afternoon
The Grey Mullet (Spanish, _Lisa_) is a good sporting fish ranging froht readily in tidal rivers as it colers are often very successful, using long roach-poles and gear similar to that of the roach-fisher at ho days asthe run of the flood-tide
The Shad (Spanish, _Sabalo_), though not only the handso of all tidal-river fish, is of no concern to the angler, since it refuses to look at lure of any kind
The Tunny (Spanish, _Atun_) frequents the south-Spanish coasts and co rivers (especially the Guadalquivir) to spawn The usual e fixed net called the _al three le to the coast-line that the fish, on striking it, follow along to the inshore end, where they enter a _corral_ or enclosed space about an acre in extent Here the fishi+ng-boats lie waiting, and when as e 300 lbs apiece) are enclosed at once, a scene of wild excite and splashi+ng around their prison, sending spray flying aff and harpoon by turns
The most successful _almadrava_ is situate at Rota, soe catch for the season (May 1 till August 1) being about 20,000 tunnies A canning factory stands on the shore hard by, where the fish are boiled, potted, and shi+pped to Italy, whence (the tins being labelled ”Italian Tunny”) they are exported to all parts of the world! The flesh resembles veal, and is much appreciated in South America
ROD-FIshi+NG FOR TUNNY
At this period, when the tunny go to spawn (exclusively larger fish), they travel, as the Spaniards say, with theirwill induce them to look at a bait There occurs, however, in winter (Nove 50 to 150 lbs apiece, and these are amenable to temptation Tarifa, in the Straits of Gibraltar, is a favourable point from which to attempt this sport The syste a plentiful supply of sardines, mackerel, and other small fish to serve as bait These, on arrival at likely waters, are thrown overboard one by one till at length they attract a roving tunny The operation is repeated till the quarry is enticed close up to the vessel
A similar fish, i on the surface, and will probably be seized The tunny on finding himself held, makes off in a bee-line at a est tackle ether with soht will be severe and prolonged, for the tunny is one of the swiftest and e man Few ae nuht thus by professional fishermen with extremely coarse hand-lines, there see” in Spain, if scientifically pursued, ht not rival that of California
The Bonito is another fine gaht at sunrise at nearly any point on the Andalucian sea-board by trolling with a white fly
CHAPTER xxx
THE SIERRA NEVaDA