248 



MUGILID.E. 



the iron bottom traversing the ground, and the quantity of 

 contents obtained soon lead to a knowledge of the best 

 localities. Should the mouth of the net get foul of any op- 

 posing substance on the ground, it is only necessary to push 

 the boat back in the line of its previous course, and the net 

 comes away clear, being thus pulled upon in the opposite 

 direction. 



When inclined to examine the net, the framework may 

 be raised by the tow-rope high enough to lodge the wooden 

 beam over the edge of the boafs stern, but higher than that 

 is unnecessary : the tail of the net is to be handed in, untied, 

 and the contents shaken into a tub for examination. The 

 tail of the net being retied, the frame may be lowered and 

 towed about as before ; and while the net is again at work 

 at the bottom, the collector may be engaged over the con- 

 tents of his tub at the top. 



