352 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



surface of the water, on which it is floated by 

 means of buoys. These nets are run across the 

 usual course which the shoal of herrings takes, 

 and the fish run their heads into the meshes 

 from which the threads entering behind the gills, 

 render it impossible for them to withdraw, while 

 the size of the mesh makes it equally impossible 

 for them to pass through the net. These nets 

 are made to extend a great distance from the 

 boat, and having been left floating are often 

 found, on being taken up, to contain as many 

 herrings as will completely fill the boat to which 

 the net belongs. 



The pilchard is taken by the same method as 

 that employed in the capture of the herring, but 

 the largest quantities are obtained by means of 

 the net called the seine or sean, a form of net of 

 great antiquity, the name of which has come down 

 to us from the Greek language. The seine is a 

 net of great length, which may either be shot 

 from the shore or from a boat. In the latter 

 case, other nets are used called stop nets, which 

 are shot in such a manner as to prevent the 

 escape of the fish already enclosed in the seine 

 itself, by completing the circle in which the fish 

 are enclosed. In some instances several seines are 

 united together, and when fully extended, enclose 

 a great space and frequently capture a corre- 

 sponding quantity. On such occasions, several boats 

 are employed, and' when a large shoal of fish is 

 discovered and the direction in which they are. 

 moving ascertained, the greatest activity prevails. 



