440 EXAMINATION OF THE PRESENT STATE 
Every one is aware that a net with square meshes (7. e. with the 
sides of the mesh parallel and transverse to the long axis of the net) 
cannot close to nearly the same extent as a net braided in the 
ordinary diagonal fashion, and it requires no experiment to show 
that such a net will let out more small fish than one of the ordinary 
pattern. Consequently one often hears that the difficulty of the 
closure of the meshes can easily be adjusted by having the latter 
braided square instead of diamond-wise. The advocates of this 
plan, however, have overlooked one fact of the most vital im- 
portance. In the diamond-shaped mesh every strand bears an equal 
share of the strain, whereas in a square mesh the strain is borne 
only by the two strands which are parallel to the long axis of the 
trawl, the transverse strands contributing in no way to the strength 
of the whole engine. Hence it follows that to bear an equal strain, 
a square mesh must be braided of twine which is double the 
thickness of that required for an ordinary diagonal mesh. The net 
therefore requires to be twice as heavy. The square mesh would, 
of course, be confined to the cod end of the trawl, and in the case 
of a steam trawler I do not know that the extra weight would 
be of very greatmoment. ‘To a sailing trawler any access of weight 
would be an intolerable infliction, as in a light wind the trawl is 
only too liable to “sand,” as it is. Hence, as far as smacks are 
concerned, this method of dealing with the matter does not come 
within the range of practical politics. 
It will be easily understood that the way in which the cod end is 
closed, must have an important bearing on the closure or non- 
closure of the meshes. The cod end is, as everyone should know, 
composed of two oblong pieces of net joined to each other along the 
sides. The fore-end of the resulting tube is laced on to the fore 
part of the net, while the after end is left open like the mouth of a 
sack. By Grimsby trawlers it is invariably closed before the net 
is shot, by gathering the meshes together and tieing a cord round 
the bunch of net ’so formed. This method is called “ tiemg’’ the 
cod end, and it is obvious that the bunching up of the net affords 
opportunity for the lodgment of every sort of rubbish which can 
possibly choke the meshes, besides in itself materially decreasing the 
possibility of their opening. Of course a cod end so “ tied”’ is not 
difficult to untie when the net comes aboard. ‘There is another 
method of closing the net known as ‘‘marling.” Instead of 
bunching the mouth together, the “back”? and “ belly ’? thereof 
are simply ‘‘ marled”’ or laced together. 
It seemed probable thata ‘ marled ”’? cod end would let out more 
small fish and more rubbish than one which was tied, and some 
experiments which I made, though I could not carry them far 
