OF ALL COUNTRIES. 51 



their lurking-places rise up and dart forward, find that the 

 head of the net has already passed over, and hurrying back 

 are caught in the cod at the end, from whence there is no 

 escape, except into the flaps and pockets at the side. 

 Many countries are engaged in this modern but highly 

 important form of capture. Belgium, Holland, France, all 

 have their fleet of trawlers (though the occupation which 

 goes by the name of herring trawling in Scotland is nothing 

 else than seine fishing), and numerous stations in England, 

 more particularly on our east and southern coasts, such as 

 Hull, Grimsby, Dover, Ramsgate, Plymouth and Brixham, 

 send out their boats to the Inner and Outer Well Banks, 

 the Great Silver Pit, the Botney Gut, and other famous 

 resorts not yet exhausted. Of late years these vessels have 

 been built larger than of old, the length of the boats having 

 been increased. A mizen has been added, so that the 

 pressure on the sails has been lowered in its centre of 

 gravity. Ice is now commonly carried in large quantities 

 and wells have been added, so that the fish can if neces- 

 sary be kept on board for a week, though their condition is 

 undoubtedly deteriorated thereby. Accordingly steam 

 cutters attend the different fleets and convey the catch 

 either to the nearest port or else direct to London. The 

 well is at the bottom of the vessel, the extremities of which 

 are pierced with auger-holes in order to allow the sea to 

 pass through freely, and it is said to have been imported 

 from Holland, and to have been first tried at Harwich in 

 1712. 



These additions have of course increased the cost of 

 the smacks employed, and 1200/. is required now for 

 engaging in the trade, where a few years ago 700/. would 

 have sufficed. A double set of gear is requisite in order 

 to provide against mishaps. A net, which should be made 



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