ON THE COAST OF BERWICKSHIRE. 225 



as to have time to pick up tlie fish on the grouud, and then the lines 

 are drawn in the reverse order to what they were put out. In large 

 herring-boats, such as those used at Eyemouth and Burnmouth at the 

 haddock-fishing, as they are not manageable by oars like small 

 cobles, the lines are shot in one direction with the sail, and are pulled 

 in the same manner. The direction which thej^ take is determined by 

 the way in which the wind is blowing, that they may be able to sail 

 both in shooting and hauling their lines. In such boats the lines are 

 never shot right before the wind, for the reason assigned. When the 

 wind shifts before they have secured them all, and blows violently, 

 they frequently lose them, being unable to get them in. 



The skipper or steersman is the person whose office it is to shoot and 

 haul in the lines. It is a ticklish office for the fingers, as they come 

 very frequently in contact with the hooks. It belongs to the man 

 who sits next the skipper to take the fish off: the hooks as they come 

 into the boat. This is very dirty work, and requires considerable 

 expertness when the fish are abundant. 



Cod-fish are taken on the same lines, but when they are plentiful 

 the fishermen put in stronger haddock-lines, as they easily break the 

 hooks and wips of the finer lines. Codlings also are taken on the same 

 lines, but they generally are found much nearer to the shore, and on 

 hard rocky ground. Besides the kind of bait mentioned above used 

 on these lines, herrings cut into pieces fit for the size of the hook are 

 found very attractive for the fish ; but they are seldom to be had at the 

 time of the cod and haddock-fishing. 



Another class of lines is in use, of a much stronger description than 

 the above, for taking cod-fish, Kng, halibut, and skate. They are used 

 in summer, in addition to those already described, and are called great 

 Hnes. The hooks are large and strong, and set at a distance of four 

 fathoms from each other. These lines are not brought on shore every 

 day, but are baited in the boat, and remain out the whole season. 

 The bait consists of haddocks cut in two, flounders, and other small 

 fish. 



A great many skate are generally got on these large lines during 

 the first few days after they are set, till the ground is cleared, and then 

 they become much less abundant ; a fact which shews that they are 

 not of a roving disposition. And so prodigious is the power of these 

 monsters, that, on the occurrence of a storm, which prevents the lines 

 from being pulled in for a few days after they are first set, they 

 frequently drag the lines to a considerable distance in their attempts 

 to disentangle themselves. All the fish have a different tug or pull, 

 so that the fisherman can distinguish at once if more than one is on 

 the line between his hand and the bottom of the sea. The large fish 

 are hooked when they reach the surface of the water, and drawn into 



