with the shore by a rope, the net is placed in a coble, 

 which is rowed across the river as near as convenient to 

 the opposite bank, and, as the coble proceeds, the net 

 drops into the water; the lower side with its weights or 

 ropes sinking to the bottom, and the upper being buoyed 

 to the surface of the river. The current operating upon 

 the net, presses the body of it along with the stream, so 

 that to keep it always extended, it becomes necessary for 

 the fishermen on the shore, to drag the inner end along 

 the bank ; and for those in the coble, in like manner, to 

 drag the outer end along with the body of the net, as it is 

 carried onwards by the pressure of the current. In the 

 course of its progress, a bay or chamber is gradually form- 

 ed towards the centre of the net, into which all the fish 

 which it encounters are received. The outer end of the 

 net is afterwards brought rapidly to the bank, thus en- 

 closing all the fish within the bay ; and, by means of 

 windlasses, the net, and all that it contains, are then 

 dragged on shore. 



While the net is in this manner, impelled down the ri- 

 ver and drawn on shore, its weights or heavy ropes arc 

 dragged along the banks, and upon the bottom of the 

 river, tearing up the gravel, and crushing and bruising 

 every delicate matter they fall upon. The effect of thus 

 dragging the net, with its ponderous weights, along the bot- 

 tom, where the spawn is deposited or the young fish are ri- 

 sing into life, tearing them up, and crushing and bruising 

 them among the gravel, must be destructive to a degree 

 beyond the power of numbers to state. And how great 

 also must be the destruction, even at a later season, after 

 the young fish are detached from the ova, and are gaining 

 strength, or seeking their way to the sea ! 



These are matters deserving of serious consideration, 



