"Lake Manzala and its many islands, has long been known as Lake Tennis. The largest of the four Egyptian lakes which border the Nile delta has had a long and complex history. Always a source of wealth for the fishermen and hunters, its surface has been shrinking all through the 20th century while the pollution affecting it has grown irreversibly. Little by little the migrating birds have changed their routes and the fish supplies have diminished. Nessim Henein describes in faithful detail the techniques that he carefully observed during the long hours that he spent in the fishermen's company. The last chapter is given to recipes on how to prepare fish and game birds. Throughout the pages of this book, the author also gives an ethnographical picture of the daily life of the people of Manzala, with their difficulties, their hopes and their constant stuggle to survive" -- back cover.