138 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



lines of 40 fathoms each fastened together into one, is 

 7200 fathoms long, eqnal to more than seven nautical 

 miles, or about eight ordinary ones^ and has 4680 hooks. 

 These are baited with the common large whelk, wdiich, 

 owing to its toughness and substance, is not easily 

 washed off the hook, and is besides an attractive bait for 

 cod and ling. The operation of baiting these hooks of 

 course takes up a good deal of time, and gives plenty of 

 employment to the numerous hands on board before the 

 line can be shot. Longlining by these smacks is only 

 carried on during the day, as light is desirable for the 

 men to see what they are about when hauling in. The 

 lines are shot about sunrise, or earlier if the weather be 

 fine, and sometimes a second shot is made if time will 

 permit, but they are always hauled up before night ; 

 they are laid across the tide so that the snoods may 

 drift clear of the main line. When a "shot" is to be 

 made, the smack is put under easy sail, and kept as 

 much as possible with tlie wind free, so as to make a fair 

 straight course whilst the line is being paid out. The 

 lines are neatly coiled, and with the baited hooks are 

 laid in trays all ready for running, each tray containing 

 from twelve to sixteen pieces, and they are paid out 

 one after another until the whole length of line is over- 

 board. No corks or floats of any kind are used to 

 raise it off the ground, but the line is kept steady 

 at every 40 fathoms by a very small anchor, and its 

 position at the two ends and at every intermediate mile 

 is marked by a hooped buoy or "dan" of a conical 

 shape, with a pole or staff passed through it and carry- 

 ing a small flag. The line is usually shot at about half- 

 tide, and when the ojoeration has been completed the 

 smack heaves-to in the neighbourhood till the tide has 

 nearly done. Then the hauling up begins. The fore- 



