192 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



deepened. From that time till now the Mullet has 

 come in lessening shoals each year, until what was 

 once a remunerative fishery, giving employment to 

 several Breydoners, has entirely ceased. The net 

 used was known as a " poke " or purse net, the 

 main net consisting of small light meshes, on either 

 side of which were larger and loose-fitting ones. 

 When a fish pushed against the obstruction, it 

 invariably pocketed itself, the smaller-meshed centre 

 being driven through a large outside mesh, com- 

 pletely bagging the captive. Sometimes, when 

 driven to desperation, one Mullet would jump the 

 net, when the rest would follow : knowing this, 

 if a large shoal was encountered, two parties would 

 sometimes unite, a second net being drawn at a 

 certain distance behind the other. Seldom did the 

 Mullet jump a second time. An old Breydoner 

 once enclosed and landed sufficient to realise ^13 

 for his haul a third of what the catch would have 

 made at the present day. His largest fish weighed 

 91bs. 



A few Grey Mullet, with a sprinkling of Salmon 

 Trout and Surmullet, are taken occasionally at sea 

 in the herring -nets. Very rarely indeed has an 

 example taken the hook never to my knowledge 



