70 . DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



have to be renewed. The back of the net, being exposed 

 to the least wear, lasts the longest ; the under part will 

 generally require renewing twice, and the cod five or 

 six times before the net is finally condemned. The cost 

 of a new net is about 0/. when made of ordinary hemp ; 

 but Manilla is coming into use for this purpose, as it is 

 very much stronger, although more costly. It is dressed 

 with coal-tar, which preserves the material better than 

 either Stockholm tar or tan. One of the large nets now 

 used, and measuring about 50 feet across the square, 

 cannot be made for much less than 16/. 



" Barking " the sails of fishing craft is almost uni- 

 versal in this country. It consists in mopping them 

 over with a solution of oak-bark, tar, grease, and ochre, 

 which acts as a good preservative to the canvas ; this 

 is done every six or eight weeks, and a yard is prepared 

 and kept for the purpose at all the important fishing 

 stations. 



Working the Trawl. 



Among the conditions desirable for successful trawl- 

 ing is a favourable tide — one of only moderate strength, 

 as the trawl, which is always towed in the same general 

 direction as, but a little faster than, the stream, then 

 works steadily and is easily kept on the ground. When 

 the vessel has arrived on her fishing ground the first 

 part of the tide is chosen for beginning work in, as she 

 can then tow for several hours in the same direction, 

 and tlie usual practice is to keep the trawl down till the 

 tide has done — about five or six liours. The vessel is 

 first put under easy sail in the direction in which she is 

 going to tow, depending on the wind suiting the tide, 

 as a toleral)ly straight course must be kept, and this can 



