TRAWLING. 75 



cover themselves with sand or mud by a peculiar action 

 of the fins, and which from the shape of their bodies are 

 not much exposed to the effect of the current, neverthe- 

 less follow the same rule more or less ; and although, 

 when on the move, fish of course swim in various direc- 

 tions, and in quiet water may rest without much regard 

 to position, they practically lie head to stream in a tide- 

 way. The ground which flat-fish esjoecially frequent is 

 that witli a smooth surface, and it will be evident from 

 what has been said of the construction of the trawl that 

 it can only be effectively worked over such a bottom. 

 Rocky or rough ground is destructive to the net, and 

 therefore fatal to this method of fishing. The trawl is 

 always towed with the tide, but a little faster than it is 

 running ; were it otherwise, the net being lighter than 

 the beam, loaded as it is with the iron heads, would be 

 liable to be drifted forwards and to prevent the entrance 

 of the fish. The slight excess of speed in the trawl 

 over the tide, varying according to circumstances from 

 half a knot to about a knot and a half in the hour, keeps 

 the net in a state of expansion, and in a proper position 

 on the bottom ; the ground-rope can then do its duty. 



The projoer working of the ground-rope — its biting 

 action or close pressure on the ground over which it is 

 dragged is of the greatest importance when soles, turbot, 

 and their kindred are worked for, as these fish when 

 disturbed do not rise from the ground as is the habit 

 with " round-fish," such as haddocks, gurnards, &c., but 

 seek safety in the sand. When, therefore, as the trawl 

 is slowly towed along, the ground-rope disturbs the flat- 

 fish which, as has been mentioned, are lying more or 

 less head to the stream — they lie exceedingly close, as is 

 the habit with all animals which hide themselves — their 

 first impulse is to dart forwards and again bury them- 



