They build a sort of platform or pier out into the river, and on this they stand, with their spears in their hands, and when a fish is seen swimming in the water, down comes the sharp-pointed javelin, which seldom misses him.  Then he is drawn upon the platform by means of the cord which is fastened to the spear.  A whole family will go out fishing in this way, and spend the day on the platform.  Some will spear the fish, while others will clean them, and prepare them for use.  One advantage that this party possesses is, that if any of them should tumble into the water, they would not get their clothes wet.

[Illustration]

But sometimes it will not do for the fisherman to endeavor to draw up the treasures of the deep while he remains at the surface of the water; very often he must go down after them.  In this way a great many of the most valuable fisheries are conducted.  For instance, the sponge-fishers are obliged to dive down to the very bottom of the water, and tear off the sponges from the rocks to which they fasten themselves.  Some of the most valuable sponge-fisheries are on the coast of Syria, and you may here see how they carry on their operations.

[Illustration]

This is a very difficult and distressing business to the divers They have to remain under the water as long as they can possibly hold their breath, and very often they are seriously injured by their exertions in this way.  But when we use the sponges we never think of this.  And if we did, what good would it do?  All over the world men are to be found who are perfectly willing to injure their health, provided they are paid for it.

The pearl-fisheries are quite as disastrous in their effects upon the divers as those of which we have just been speaking.

The pearl-diver descends by the help of a long rope, to the end of which is attached a heavy stone.  He stands on the stone, holds the rope with one hand and his nose with the other, and quickly sinks to the bottom.  Then he goes to work, as fast as he can, to fill a net which hangs from his neck, with the pearl-oysters.  When he can stay down no longer, the net and stone are drawn up by the cord, and he rises to the surface, often with blood running from his nose and ears.  But then, those who employ them sometimes get an oyster with as fine pearls as this one contains.

[Illustration]

It is perfectly possible, however, to dive to the bottom of the sea with very valuable results, without undergoing all this terrible injury and suffering.  In this country and Europe there are men who, clad in what is called submarine armor, will go to the bottom of a river, or bay, or the sea,—­where it is not very deep—­and there walk about almost as comfortably as if they were on land.  Air is supplied to them by long pipes, which reach to the surface, and these divers have been made very useful in discovering and removing wrecks, recovering sunken treasure, and in many other ways.