DRIFT-NET FISHING. 107 



which we shall speak subsequently — the vessel is j)ut 

 before the wind, and shooting the nets over the quarter 

 of the vessel is begun. The nets are all stowed in 

 regular order in the net-room, and to prevent any 

 danger of their hitching whilst passing over the deck, 

 a " bank-board " is placed between the hatchway and 

 the top of the bulwark, over which they are hauled, a 

 roller at the edge of the hatchway taking off the strain 

 there would otherwise be in getting up the nets from 

 below. Two hands shoot the nets, one taking charge 

 of the corks and bowls, and the other looking after the 

 netting or "lint"; one of the capstan-men looks out 

 for the seizings as the nets come on deck, and runs aft 

 with them to the mate near the taffrail, who makes 

 them fast to the warp. This goes on till the long train 

 of nets with the corresponding length of warp are all 

 overboard; 15 or 20 fathoms more warp, as a "swing 

 rope," are then paid out, and the vessel is brought round 

 head to wind, the sails are taken in, the mast lowered 

 till it rests on the mitch-board, a small mizen, called the 

 " drift-mizen," is set to keep the vessel head to wind 

 and the regulation lights are put up to show that the 

 vessel is fishing (Plate Y.) ; the watch is then set, and 

 the nets and vessel drift with the tide. 



It is very rarely that there is an absolute calm ; and 

 as the faintest breath of air is felt by the vessel, she of 

 course drifts away under its influence faster than the 

 nets, which being under water do not feel it ; a strain 

 is consequently put upon the nets and keeps them ex- 

 tended, whilst both nets and vessel are carried along 

 bodily by the tide. In bad weather more swing rope 

 is allowed that the vessel may not have too great a 

 drag on the nets, and she sometimes rides with as much 

 as 100 fathoms of warp out. 



