64 FISHING INDUSTRY OF PLYMOUTH. 



vessels^ it is not considered necessary to provide for their 

 safety by hanging a foot-rope below them. The " foot-line " 

 lies, therefore, on the " back " of the net. 



Another reason and one which renders this arrangement 

 of the foot-rope necessary is, that at times the water fished 

 is so shallow that the nets themselves have to be hauled nearer 

 the surface (the lines by which they hang' from the floats being 

 shortened), to prevent them dragging along the bottom. 



Fishing Grounds, — The grounds fished extend from the 

 Mewstone to Bolt Tail from one to eight miles from the 

 shore. 



Fishery — For the last two years this fishery has not been 

 so good as usual. 



PilcJiard Fishing. 



The pilchard fishery is very variable in extent, and the 

 times during which it is carried on is also quite uncertain. 



If there is a good supply of fish it lasts about from July 

 to Christmas, and is divided into two sections : 



1. A summer fishery, lasting during July and August. 



2. A winter fishery, from September to Christmas. 

 Boats. — Besides Plymouth boats, about 120 small boats 



belonging to west country ports, Mevagissey, Falmouth, Looe 

 and Polperro, bring fish to this market. 



Nets. — The pilchard nets are each 120 yardslong, and afleet 

 consists of twelve to fifteen nets forming a line of nearly a mile 

 in length. They are six fathoms deep, and those used for the 

 summer fishery have meshes '95" across or thirty-eight to 

 the yard, while those used for the winter fishery have meshes 

 1" across or thirty-six to the yard. Old shrunken herring 

 nets are frequently used for the pilchard fishery. 



Fishing Grounds. — The grounds fished are as follows : — 



1. During the summer fishery, between Eaeme Head and 

 Looe Island, near in shore. The fish work their way east- 

 ward towards the autumn ; and 



2. During the winter fishery the nets are shot off Ply- 

 mouth, and, may be, as far east as off Bigbury Bay, but 

 chiefly from seven to eight miles south to south-south-west 

 of Plymouth Sound. 



