ENGLISH WHITE FISHERIES. 293 



'^bnfequently 9 of thefe lints are fattened together, 

 and ufed as one line, extending in length near 3 

 iniles, and furnifhed with 2520 hooks. An anchor 

 and buoy are fixed at the firft end of the line, and 

 one more of each at the end of each man's line ; in 

 iill 4 anchors, which are commonly perforated ftone.% 

 and 4 buoys are made of leather or cork. The 

 line is always laid acrofs the current. The tides of 

 flood and ebb continue an equal time upon our 

 coaft, and when undifturbed by winds, run each 

 way about fix hours. They are fo rapid that the 

 4ifhermen can only fhoot and haul their lines at the 

 turn of tide; and therefore the lines always remain 

 upon the ground about 6 hours. The tide prevents 

 their ufing hand-lines, and therefore two of the peo- 

 ple commonly wrap themfelves in the fail, and deep 

 while the other keeps a ftricx look-out, for fear of 

 being run down by fhips, and to obierve the wea- 

 ther. For ftorms often rife fo fuddenly, that it is 

 with extreme difficulty they can ibmetimes efcape to 

 the fhore ; leaving their lines behind. 



The coble is 20 feet -6 inches long, and 5 feet ex- 

 treme breadth. It is about one ton burden, rowed 

 with 3 pair of oars, and admirably conftrucled for 

 the purpofe of encountering a mountainous fca : 

 they hoift fail when the wind funs. 



The 5 men boat is 40 feet long and 15 broad, and 

 of 25 tons burden : it is fo called, though navigated by 

 6 men and a boy, becaufe one of the men is commonly 

 hired to cook, &:c. and does not fhare in the profits 

 with the other $. Ail our able fifhermen go in thefe 

 boats to the herring fifhery at Yarmouth the latter 

 end of September, and return about the middle of 

 November. The boats are thus laid up until the 

 beginning of lent, at which time they go off in them 

 to the edge of the Dogger, and other places, to filh 

 for turbot, cod, ling, fkates, &:c. They always take 

 3 cobles on board, and when they come upon the 

 ajichor the boat, throw out the cobles, and 

 T 3 fifti 



