FISHING NETS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE OTTER-TRAWL. 575 



are made on each side, so as to reduce their number. At the end 

 of 8 feet the mesh is reduced in size through 2 feet to 2| in. The 

 batings continue with two knots between each, and the mesh is also 

 gradually reduced until at 18 feet from the foot of the square we have 

 120 meshes of 2 in. across. This marks the " head of the pockets." 

 The size of mesh is now reduced to li in., and the batings continued 

 until the " cod " of 60 meshes across is reached. The " cod " is open at 

 the end across the whole 60 meshes. A loose double mesh is braided 

 on at the end, through which a rope is passed. When the cod-end 

 is fastened, this rope is pulled tight at both ends and then fastened 

 in a peculiar and handy knot, which only the true trawler knows. The 

 "flapper" is a short tongue of netting of Ih in. mesh, 40 to 50 meshes 

 at the top down to 20 or 22 meshes at the bottom. 



The different parts of the net have now been described. It remains 

 to show how they are " fixed " or put together. The " fixing " is the 

 secret of the successful working of the net. By diverse signs one 

 learns to know that the net is too tightly pinched at one part or 

 too slack at another. After a new net is placed in the water it may 

 shrink unevenly — and usually does — and the net will not fish properly. 

 In all cases, when from some sign one suspects the fixing to be wrong, 

 it is better to take the net to pieces and set it up afresh. There is 

 nothing more tantalising than a badly fixed net. 



As it comes from the makers the net is in separate bundles, viz. 

 a pair of top-wings, a pair of bottom-wings, the square, a pair of 

 batings and a pair of cod-ends. Unrolling the top-wings and the 

 square, these are braided together, as shown in Plate I. At the side, 

 it is usual to join them by double twine so as to strengthen the corner 

 of the net. The lines of junction of the top-wings to the square 

 are called the " top-quarters " (Plate II.). 



The foot of the square is then braided on to the head of one of 

 the batings, and one of the cod-ends to the foot of the latter. The 

 flapper is now taken and laccd on to the lower part of the batings 

 where the latter is 90 meshes across. The top part of the net is now 

 ready for fixing on to the lower part. As sent out from the makers 

 the bottom-wings are joined together at their broadest part by three 

 to four rows of meshes of double twine. There should be 100 meshes 

 across from wins to wing, and these form what is called the " bosom." 

 The bosom in the centre and the wings at the sides are to be braided 

 on to the head of the belly or batings, and on the lower end of these 

 is braided the remaining cod-end. 



The two halves of the net are now prepared for lacing. This is 

 done by hitching them up to a post, or an eye on the bulwarks, and 

 stretching them out parallel to one another — the flapper on the inside. 



