72 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



hangs evenly from them ; if the whole gear be then in 

 a proper position more way is got on the vessel and the 

 warp given out so as to allow the trawl to sink to 

 the bottom, which, as the vessel is nnder way, it will 

 do at some distance astern. After that the quantity 

 of extra warp allowed is determined by the judgment of 

 the master, according to the various circumstances of 

 weather, tide, and description of fish expected to be 

 caught. It will be obvious that if the trawl were 

 allowed to sink perpendicularly, which would be the 

 case if the vessel had no way on her whilst the gear 

 was being lowered, it would bo liable to turn round 

 with any twisting there might be in the warp, and it 

 would be very much a matter of chance whether the 

 trawl came to the ground on its back or otherwise. 

 With all the precautions taken it sometimes happens 

 that a mistake is made. When this is the case the irre- 

 gular jerking of the warp as the trawl is towed along 

 shows something is wrong, and then there is nothing to 

 be done but to heave up and shoot the net again. 



If all appear to be going right the warp is finally 

 made fast by a small rope called the " stopper," a couple 

 of turns of which arc taken round the pump-head, and 

 the ends laid round the warp in opposite directions, so 

 as to overlap and cross at each turn, and thus to ensure 

 a good hold; they are then secured. The object of the 

 sto])per is to save the warp in case of the trawl getting 

 Ion I ; for being a small rope it would, under any sudden 

 stiain, snap or part before the warp, and the trawl 

 would not be lost. More warp can then be paid out, 

 and the vessel sailed in such a direction as perhaps to 

 clear the obstruction ; if not, the next thing to be done 

 is to try and heave up, and as the warp is got on board 

 and the .sdain becomes iiiore perpendicular, the trawl 



