jr 4 HISTORY OF THE 



The buffes are from 20 to 100 tons burden $ they 

 are under certain parliamentary regulations refpedt- 

 ing netting, and the number of men. An improve- 

 ment hath lately been made in the management of 

 the nets, by which there is a confiderable faving to 

 the proprietors. Hitherto the nets were tanned 

 with bark alone, but the improved method is a mix- 

 ture of tar and fifh oil ; five parts of tar, and one of 

 oil, are melted together, to incorporate thoroughly} 

 when quite hot, it is poured upon the nets in a tub, 

 in quantity fufficient to wet them. It is then drawn 

 off by a hole at the bottom of the tub, immediately, 

 in order that too much of it may not flick, and make 

 them clammy, which would be the cafe, if it cooled 

 on them. At the bottom of the tub fhould be an 

 open falfe bottom, or the nets will flop the hole, and 

 the mixture will not run off free enough. By means 

 of this fimple operation, the nets are prevented from 

 rotting, and the fifhermen are faved the trouble of 

 ever fpreading and drying them, which in common, 

 is done every day, and is a great flavery in the fhort 

 days: the benefit has been found fo great, that al- 

 mofl all the country has come into it. 



Improvements have alfo been made in work- 

 ing the nets ; it is found, that corking the line 

 under the flrapped buoys is wrong, as it keeps it in 

 an uneven direction ; there fhould be a vacancy of 

 corks for three fathom on each fide the buoy lines, 

 but the middle fpaces (hould be corked thick, which 

 is found to anfwer exceedingly well. 



A vefTel of 100 tons hath two boats from 19 to 

 21 feet keel, 7 feet 4 inches broad, and 3 feet 4 

 inches in depth; the expence of building 19!. each. 

 The nets are 1 20 fathom long at the rope, and 7 feet 

 deep. It fometimes happens, that the want of a fuffi- 

 ciency of buoy rope is the reafon why country fifher- 

 men are often unfuccefsful, though immediately 

 above the herrings* 



The 



