SEAN-FISHTNG. 159 



Theoretically this kind of net miglit be used any- 

 where for catching surface-swimming fishes ; but in 

 deep water there is a probability of the fish escaping 

 below the net, and the necessity for employing rowing 

 boats also interferes with its successful use except very 

 near the land or in the smooth water of sheltered bays 

 or lochs. 



The grouud-sean or foot-sean, sometimes called a 

 scringe-net, is always hauled in on the shore ; it is con- 

 structed on much the same principle as other seans, but 

 is not nearly so deep at the two wings, and the meshes 

 there are generally much larger than in the bunt. Each 

 wing terminates in a pole fastened to the back and foot 

 ropes ; and to this pole a long drag-rope is attached by 

 a short bridle, and is used in hauling in the net. When 

 the sean is to be shot the end of one of the drag-ropes 

 is left on shore in charge of some of the fishermen, 

 and the other rope and the whole of the net are put 

 into the stern of the sean-boat, which is then rowed out 

 from and back to the shore, the boat making a large or 

 small sweep according to the length of the sean, which 

 is thrown over as the boat is rowed along. When this 

 is completed the end of the second drag-rope is landed, 

 and the fishermen, divided into two parties, one at each 

 rope, slowly haul in the net, working the two sides 

 evenly and gradually approaching each other as the 

 net comes in, till at last they meet, and the bunt or 

 middle of the net, in which all the fish are collected, is 

 then drawn on shore. 



The ground-sean is a very convenient kind of net, as 

 it may be used of almost any size wherever the bottom 

 is tolerably smooth and there is a beach on which it can 

 be landed. It is much used at Brighton for catching 

 mackerel, and also along the Chesil Beach, near Port- 



