294 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



upper edge of the net steadily floating three feet above 

 the ground. The rope sweeping along the bottom 

 disturbs the fish ; up they dart in foolish distracted 

 haste, and come in contact wdth the net overarching 

 them ; this flurries them, and they dart sideways to 

 escape ; in doing which they unsuspectingly swim into 

 the net if they go one way, into the pockets if they go 

 the other. The net, thus scraping the bottom, gathers, 

 of course, a quantity of shells and weeds as well as 

 fish ; this is known to naturalists as " trawl refuse," 

 and is always worth careful overhauling. 



The contents are all emptied upon the deck, and 

 while Jack is gloating over the turbot, brill, soles, skate, 

 and gurnard, or grimly noticing the utter absence of 

 those desirable individuals, you squat down amid the 

 refuse, and begin a long deliberate investigation thereof. 

 The net is once more plunging its way to the bottom, 

 the vessel glides through the rippling music, and you 

 are absorbed in eager inspection of shell and weed. It 

 is probable that this stooping and peering, accompanied 

 by the motion of the vessel, will bring on the nausea 

 and headache, if not worse, which hitherto you have 

 escaped. I will not pretend that this is pleasant ; but 

 there is no help for it. None but the brave deserve 

 the mollusc ! The pain is transient, the delight per- 

 sists. You may return home at the close of the day 

 probably uncomfortable, and certainly hideous ; but 

 behind you Jack is bringing a bucketful of treasures ; 

 and to-morrow you will only know that you have these 

 treasures. 



