CH. l] THE EXPLORATIOX OF THE SEA 21 



About 12 feet from the forward iron a thimble has been worked 

 on to the forward bridle and through this the end of the stopper 

 is passed, and this rope is then made fast to the starboard bollards. 

 "Shooting" is then carried out as follows: (1) the slack of the net 

 is thrown over the side ; (2) the forward iron is thrown into the 

 sea and is brought up by the stopper when about 12 feet of the 

 after bridle has gone overboard ; (3) the after iron is now also 

 thrown over the side and at the same time the stopper is let go, 

 the net now drifts out astern and is brought up by the head-rope ; 

 (4) this too is let go and the trawl now is " squared up " as it 

 drifts out astern. The trawl warp is then slowly paid out until 

 the officer in charge of the operation is satisfied that sufficient is 

 out to allow the net to drag nicely on the bottom. The stopper 

 is then put on and the ship steams at a speed which is adjusted 

 to. the nature of the fishing. The whole operation is delicate and 

 requires much skill and experience, not only that the trawl may 

 be successfully shot — that it may not for instance capsize and fish 

 upside down, in which case the whole operations are futile — but 

 also that it may not result in an accident to some one of the crew 

 of the trawl, by no means an improbable contingency, should the 

 shooting be carried out carelessly ^ 



When the trawl is to be hauled the ship is stopped and the 

 stopper is taken off. The trawl rope is then passed round the 

 capstan, the latter is started and the rope is hauled in. When 

 the bridles have passed round the capstan these are watched until 

 the thimble on the forward one has come to the surface; a block 

 is then made fast to this and the forward iron is hauled by hand, 

 while the head-rope, which is attached to the beam near the after 

 iron, is also hauled by the capstan. The beam comes to the 

 surface, is hauled to above the level of the rail, is lowered over 

 this and is made fast. The slack of the net is then hauled in by 

 hand if a light catch has been made, or is lifted by a tackle if 

 much material is contained in the net. Finally the latter is 

 brought on deck, the cod-string is unlaced and the catch is 

 shaken out. 



^ I am indebted to my friend Captain ^Yignall for this account of the practical 

 working of the trawl net. The diagram on page 20 has also been prepared by 

 him. 



