52 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



or purse, and the variations in shape or fittings are due 

 to the different plans adopted for ensuring the mouth of 

 the bag being kept open, so that the fish may enter 

 whilst the net or bag itself is towed along out of sight 

 at the bottom. 



The origin of the trawl-net appears to be unknown, 

 but an eminently primitive method of working it is still 

 in use on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of 

 Spain. The Spanish trawl differs but little in shape 

 from the English net, except in having the cod or last 

 part of it in the form of a short broad receptacle for the 

 fish instead of a long and narrow oue. Its chief feature 

 is that, in order to keep the mouth of the net open so 

 as to work efficiently, two vessels are employed. They 

 are termed " Parejas," signifying pairs or couples, and 

 they sail together at a certain distance apart, towing 

 the net between them. An improvement on this plan, 

 although very far from being satisfactory, is the ham- 

 mer or pole trawl, still used on some parts of the south 

 and south-west coasts of Ireland. Only one vessel is 

 required to work it, and the mouth of the net is ex- 

 tended by ropes leading from wings of netting on both 

 sides of it to poles projecting one on each side of the 

 vessel. It is but a clumsy contrivance, and only suited 

 to smooth and shallow water. It will be further 

 described when the Irish fisheries are spoken of.^ The 

 otter-trawl is the same kind of net as the one just 

 noticed, but otter-boards are fastened to the end of the 

 wings, and by their peculiar and kite-like action cause 



herrings, by using it somewhat on the principle of a moving stow-net. The 

 gajiing and enormous bag is sunk to the proper deptli by a rope, and in this 

 condition is carried along among the hosts of fish by the moving vessel." Mr. 

 Couch makes no mention of the scan being, in Scotland, called a trawl, and 

 there is no evidence of his having been aware of the fact. We have never 

 heard of the beam-trawl being used in the manner described. 

 1 Patre 371. 



