22 



tow-ropes always staud iu tlie favourable position, partly because they drag in 

 two separate lines, partly because they come on lower water only (under 100 

 fathoms). 



It is tlierefore, evideutly, a matter of great importance to lift tlie crow- 

 t'oot and tow-rope i'rom the bottom, in such a way that they do not prevent 

 the Hsh I'rom getting into the trawl. I cannot say precisely, how it can be 

 done on deeper water, but I shall mention some momeuta which iuflueuce this 



Fif^. 10. An Otter-Seine (front view). 



'J'hu dotlcd liuu ^liow.s the crow-foot in tlie nnl'rtVduralile iinsilion. Ihe line l'nlly dniwn out sliows the same 



iu llie lavouraljle position, (.\binit the same seale as lig. 9.) 



matter. Il' the otters of the seine are very heavy and the urow-foot with the 

 tow-rope proportionally hght, there will be a tendency towards liftiug the latter 

 two from the bottom, provided that we do not veer out too much line; and if 

 we could make both bridles of the crow-foot very long, forinstance 100 fathoms, 

 we should, 1 dåre say, withiu certain limits, bc able to mauage it in such a 

 way that the vertex of the crowfoot never went to the bottom. But if we 

 make the crow-foot too long, it is ditticult to heave it in, anil it is liable to 

 twist together, because the angle between the bridles becomes smaller, the 

 longer the bridles are; thi.s twisting eau )ie coiinterworked, liowever, as above 



