38 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



a half to three miles of netting carried by the boat are 

 stretched out in a long straight line, the upright 

 position of the nets in the water being maintained by 

 buoys, called bowles, and cork floats secured to their 

 upper edge, while their own weight causing them to 

 sink preserves them in the form of a long perforated 

 wall. A few more fathoms of warp are paid out, to 

 which the boat swings, and nets and boat together 

 drift with the current or tide. The boat, being more 

 susceptible to the wind cr current than the nets, 

 maintains a constant strain upon them, which keeps 

 the nets in an even, extended line, and so prevents the 

 wash of the waves from causing them to foul one an- 

 other. A watch of two men is set, relieved every two 

 hours, and the regulation light put up. The nets are 

 tried every two hours, by hauling up two or three of 

 them.; and as soon as they are thought to show fair 

 signs of capture, they are hauled in by steam gear, 

 if the boat has it ; if not, by four men, who in their 

 tramping round and round walk some eight miles, 

 the other hands being engaged, each in his appointed 

 place, attending to the nets and fish as both are being 

 got on board. Should the nets, after hauling has 

 begun, show signs of the catch getting poorer, the 

 remaining nets are not hauled, but those already in 

 are again shot. In the event of a material change of 

 wind occurring after the nets are shot, the whole fleet 

 of boats is obliged to haul in the nets as quickly as 

 possible, and re-shoot ; otherwise the many miles of 

 net out would soon get into inextricable confusion, 

 resulting in great loss. 



