214 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



and-aft schooner, but with the addition of a mizen hig, 

 which, however, is not always carried ; topsails are 

 set in liadit weather. A reo^ular deck is laid as far aft 

 as the mainmast, but beyond that the boat is open, and 

 both masts can be lowered when fishing is going on. 

 The smaller boats, used for more inshore fishing, have 

 the same general character of build. A few years ago 

 they were rigged with a jib, fore and main spritsails, 

 and occasionally a mizen, either a small triangular sail 

 or a spritsail ; but more recently the gaff-sails have been 

 gaining favour, and most of the small boats are now 

 rigged in the same way as the large ones. The rapid 

 tides and innumerable scattered rocks along 'the coast of 

 the Channel Islands make the navigation there very 

 dangerous at most times, and all the skill of the fisher- 

 men would avail them but little if they had not boats 

 which sailed as well and were as easily handled as those 

 Avhich are characteristic of the islands. 



The large mackerel boats carry five hands, and each 

 man receives one share of the produce of the fishing, 

 the boat takes another, and a seventh goes to the sales- 

 man. The small boats usually have two men in them. 

 Pilchard fishing is of comparatively recent introduc- 

 tion at Guernsey ; it is carried on with small scans from 

 June to Noveml)er. 



The sometimes capricious movements of the herrings 

 have been well illustrated by the sudden disappearance 

 of these fish from the Gruernsey waters, as has before 

 now been the case at other localities ; but there is a 

 story current in the island, which in this instance 

 oifers a remarkably simple explanation of the matter. 

 We give it in substance as it was told to us : — 



" There used to be a good fishery for herrings at 

 (ruernsey till 1830, when it suddenly came to an end. 



