ON THE ECONOMICAL USES OF FISHES. 181 



constructed of wicker work instead of netting. But 

 perhaps more salmon are taken by what is called 

 the coble and net fishery, than by any other method. 

 This is carried on in large streams, such as the Tay 

 and Tweed, in the following manner : A small boat 

 of a peculiar construction, called a coble, managed 

 by a single man, and carrying at the stern a long 

 net, one end of which is fastened to the shore, is 

 rowed out into the stream ; the net, which is heavily 

 weighted, sinks to the bottom, and is kept nearly 

 perpendicular by means of large floats in its upper 

 margin; and, as the boat proceeds, the net continues 

 dropping into the water, describing, by the time 

 the coble reaches the shore, a complete semicircle. 

 The whole net is then dragged to the bank, some- 

 times by the assistance of a windlass. Higher up 

 the rivers, weirs are formed, by building a dyke 

 across the stream, generally one of small size ; in this 

 dyke are several apertures, leading to enclosures of 

 different kinds, called cruives, into which the fish 

 enter, and are taken out at convenience, being 

 unable to find an opening through which to escape. 

 The salmon is also taken on the flats of the Solway 

 Frith, by means of funnel shaped nets fastened to a 

 pole, which are used during the ebbing and flowing 

 of the tide. In the Welsh rivers, salmon are fished 

 for with a kind of trammel net, from small boats 

 called coracles, carrying each a single man*. There 



* Salmon are sometimes taken by means of loose nets, in 

 the meshes of which the fish are gilled and easily taken. 

 About five years ago nearly 800 were taken at one hawl in a 



