SEAN-FISHING. 157 



sean proper — sometimes also called the " stop-sean " — 

 the "tuck-sean," and the "ground or foot-sean," All 

 these nets have the same general character, and are 

 used for surrounding or encircling the fish ; but they 

 differ slightly in the manner in which they are em- 

 ployed. They consist of a long train of netting 

 varying considerably in dimensions, but are always of 

 greater depth at the middle or " bunt " than at the 

 ends, which are called the " sleeves " or " wings "; and 

 are shot either in a circle if the net is to be worked 

 entirely from the boat, or in a semicircle if it is to be 

 hauled on shore. The back or upper edge of the net is 

 buoyed up by corks to keep it at the surface, a matter 

 of great importance, as the net is principally used for 

 catching surface-swimming fishes ; and the foot is 

 weighted with lead to keep it down, so that the net 

 may hang perpendicularly in the water. 



Seaning is conducted on a large scale at St. Ives for 

 the capture of pilchards, and we may here give a short 

 notice of the nets used for that purpose, deferring the 

 more detailed account of pilchard-seaning till we speak 

 of the Cornish fisheries generally. Two, or sometimes 

 three, nets are employed there for enclosing a shoal of 

 fish, or as much of it as can be managed at the time. 

 The first or principal net, there called the " sean," is 

 about 200 fathoms long and 10 fathoms at its greatest 

 depth ; to this another net of the same kind, called the 

 "stop-sean," and 100 fathoms long, is united; and the 

 two are shot together, the boats with each net starting 

 from the same place, rather on the outside of the shoal 

 if it be not very large, but moving in different directions, 

 although with the intention of ultimately reuniting. 

 The sean is at first carried along outside, parallel to 

 the shore, and brought round towards it, thus cutting 



