BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 153 



and no investigation is ever made to see whether there are herring in 

 snch a phice or not. This will be seen in the morning. Each boat has 

 from fifteen to twenty nets. Each net is 50 fathoms long, and the 

 entire chain of nets extends for a considerable distance. The width of 

 the meshes is 1 inch. The depth of the net is 45 feet; bat its npper 

 edge is, by the line leading to the tloats, sunk 2-1 feet below the surface 

 of the water. Ko sinkers arc em {jloyed. Each net has five floats. As 

 such the Manx fishermen generally use dog-skins or sheep-skins ; and 

 if these cannot be obtained in sufficient number, corks are used for 

 alternate floats. A heavier line runs along the npper edge of the net, 

 and the lines holding the floats are tied to it. After the net has been 

 set, the vessel takes up a position near its end, having the top and the 

 bottom line on board ; and then the herring are at liberty to rush into 

 the net as fast as thev can. A watch is set on board, and the I'est of 



t' 7 



the crew go to bed. 



Each vessel lias an engine for hauling in the net. At 2 a. m. the fire 

 is started in this engine, and at the first break of dawn the fishermen 

 begin to haul in the net with the fish. The heavy line running along 

 the upper edge of the net, called "' false back," is drawn in by the engine, 

 and at the same time raises the net and drives the vessel forward 

 along its side. It is a pretty sight when the herring, glittering in the 

 ra3^s of the morning sun, are drawn on board. If the catch is good, the 

 net is hauled on board as fast as possible, and the herring are taken 

 out later; but if only a few fish have been caught, the nets are imme- 

 diately put in order for next morning's haul, the sails are set, and the 

 homeward voyage is begun. 



The quantity of fish caught, of course, varies greatly. Some vessels 

 catch as much as 100 cubic feet in one night, while others, during the 

 same time, catch only a few hundred fish. Fifty cubic feet is considered 

 a good catch. When the fishing fleet returns to the harbor, about 6 or 

 7 a. m., everything is ready for the sale of the fish. The English firms 

 which during the season do business on the island are all represented 

 by their agents. The sale is by auction, the larger share-holders in- 

 sisting on this mode of selling, which is the most satisfactory to all 

 parties concerned. 



A sample of the fish caught by one boat is shown, and the quantity is 

 announced, whereupon the bidding commences. The fish are sold by the 

 mease, a mease containing about five hundred fish. Each hundred has 

 forty-two lots at three fish each, so that a hundred is in reality one hun- 

 dred and twenty-six. 



The price of the mease varies considerably, and depends of course on 

 the catch made during the daj', on the quality of the fish, and the con- 

 dition of the market. The lowest price per mease during this season 

 was 9 shillings, and the highest 30 shillings. TIic average price for a 

 good article is about 20 shillings. Generally some salt is immediately 

 sprinkled over the fish, especiallj^ during warm weather. In Peel itself 



