176 



CLUPEID.E. 



The seaners fix themselves in pairs on the gunwales of the 

 boats, with flaskets to lade the fish on board. When the 

 quantity enclosed in the stop-scan is large, the tuck-sean is 

 made to enclose no more than the boats can carry, of which 

 a master seaner commonly forms a correct judgment by the 

 extent of the briming in his sean, as the fish move in it ; 

 and many advantages result from taking up only a portion at 

 one time, for the whole can thus be salted in proper condition, 

 without fatigue or extraordinary expense : thus a week may 

 possibly elapse before the whole of the capture is secured, 

 part being taken up every night. 



The description here given of the manner in which the 

 Pilchard fishery is conducted applies to the greater part of 

 the coast, but some variation occurs in particular districts. 

 In Mount's Bay the men and boats employed to take the 

 fish are not the same that convey it to land ; a mode of pro- 

 ceeding rendered necessary by the distance from shore at 

 which it is taken. The fishery at St. Ives is regulated by 

 a particular act of parliament, and huers* are employed there 

 and elsewhere to assist the fishermen. The sean-fishery, as 

 practised formerly, resembled that carried on at St. Ives ; and 

 in one of Norden^s maps is a representation of the taking of 

 Pilchards by means of a sweep-net, of which one end con- 

 tinues near the shore, as then employed in St. Austle's Bay. 

 The capture was drawn on shore in the mode now used with 

 ground-scans for other fish, and consequently none could be 

 taken unless they approached near to an open beach ; and one 

 end of a sean is now termed the pole end, from the pole shod 

 with lead then used to elevate and spread the part to which 

 the warp was attached. 



Old and experienced fishermen have stated as the result 



* Huers are men posted on elevated situations near the sea, who by various 

 concerted signals, made with a bunch of furze in each hand, direct the fishermen 

 how best to surround a schull offish. 



