104 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



at night, and often extending for a long distance across 

 the course of vessels passing up and down the coast, 

 are sometimes liable to be damaged by vessels rinming 

 over or through them ; and if by chance the nets are 

 cut, the warp which hangs below and is fastened to 

 every one, holds the train together and prevents any 

 serious mischief. 



All the vessels used in the Yarmouth herring fishery 

 are decked ; the largest of them, about 36 tons N.M., 

 being 52 feet on the keel, with 17 feet beam, and 7 feet 

 depth of hold (Frontispiece). They are lugger rigged, 

 with two masts only, and carry a jib when necessary, a 

 large dipping fore-lugsail with the tack hooking on to 

 an iron bumkin outside the stem, and a working mizen 

 and topsail. The mizenmast is stepped a little on the 

 port side to allow room for steering, as there would not 

 be sufficient play for the tiller if it were quite amidship, 

 unless placed farther forward. The larger boats are 

 generally built with a counter and square stern, which 

 give more room on deck ; but many of the smaller boats 

 have an upright round stern, and this is advantageous 

 when running before a sea, and often prevents disaster 

 from broaching- to. The mizenmast is always kept 

 standing ; but to enable the boat to ride easier when 

 drifting, the foremast is made to lower backwards on 

 the same principle as is adopted in barges and vessels 

 which have to pass under bridges in inland navigation. 

 It may be seen any day in operation on the Thames. 

 An open space is left in the deck immediately behind 

 the mast-hole, and the mast falls back into this as it is 

 lowered by means of a burton tackle from the mast-head 

 to the stem of the vessel ; the heel of the mast being 

 the pivot on which it moves. In the centre of the 

 vessel is Hxed a broad upright piece of timber, about 



