TRAWLINa. 7.1 



only be done when the wind is generally fair, or more 

 or less ahaft the beam. The net is then thrown over- 

 board or " shot," beginning at the cod, until the whole 

 trawl is clear of the vessel and hanging from the beam, 

 which is still in its place, hoisted up alongside. The 

 end of the trawl-warp is previously passed outside from 

 the bow, in the Brixham vessels, and being brought 

 round clear of the shrouds is shackled to the two ends 

 of the bridle, two or three turns of which are taken 

 round the pump-head just abaft the main hatchway. In 

 the North Sea trawlers, where the trawl is hauled up 

 over the side, the warp is already in its place, and only 

 requires being made fast to the bridle. Everything is 

 now ready for lowering ; and that part of the proceed- 

 ing, simple as it may appear, is really one requiring 

 considerable care ; for unless projoerly managed the net 

 and beam will not reach the bottom in the right position 

 for working — that is, with the trawl-heads downward 

 and the mouth of the net open below ; for if the trawl 

 were to turn over and fall on its back, the beam would 

 be on the ground and the ground-rope above it ; the 

 entrance to the net would therefore be closed. The 

 lowering is thus managed : — The fore bridle is first 

 slacked away until that end of the beam is well clear 

 and stands out at a considerable angle from the vessel, 

 the after part being still kept in its place by the dandy 

 bridle, which comes in over the taffrail to the small 

 stern windlass or dandy wink by which it is worked. 

 This rope is then slacked away till the whole beam is 

 in the water, and the inner end of the rope is brought 

 forward to be made fast to the warp, just above the 

 shackle, till it is again wanted when the beam has to be 

 hoisted up. The beam is now held by the two parts of 

 the main bridle, and they are slowly paid out till it 



