246 HAND-LINE FISHING. 



any of the fish. Two boats are necessary ; one of 

 which is rowed round the shoal, while the net is 

 thrown overboard by two men to enclose it ; the other 

 boat is employed in keeping steady the end of the net, 

 and warping it, the sooner and more surely to prevent 

 the escape of the fish. When this is effected, the 

 scan stands like a circle enclosing the captives, and 

 the men proceed to draw it together at the ends and 

 bottom; at the same time throwing pebbles at that 

 place where the circle closes, to prevent the approach 

 of the fish to the only place where escape is possible. 

 When at last the enclosure is perfect, and the net 

 raised from the ground, the fish thus brought to the 

 surface are taken on board in flaskets. Such is the 

 mode of proceeding with the sean in deep water, or at 

 a distance from shore ; but in some places it is hauled 

 on the beach in the manner of a ground-net, with less 

 trouble and expense. 



A third mode of fishing is with a hand-line, and is 

 called railing (trailing). The mackerel will bite at 

 any bait that is used to take the smaller kinds of 

 fish; but preference is given to what resembles a living 

 and active prey, which is imitated by what is termed 

 a lask, a long slice cut from the white silvery part of 

 one of its own kind; a small slip of tin, or a silver 

 coin, with a hole through it ; it is found also that a 

 slip of red leather, or a piece of scarlet cloth, will com- 

 monly succeed ; and a scarlet coat has, therefore, been 

 called a mackerel bait for a lady. The boat is put 

 under sail, and a smart breeze is considered favourable ; 

 hence termed a mackerel breeze. The Hue is short, 



