248 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



Though I have described here only the nets which are 

 used in New South Wales waters, generally speaking, with 

 but slight modifications, the same nets are used in one or 

 other of the remaining States of the Australian Common- 

 wealth. 



Though, as stated, the Trawl-Net has only been used 

 experimentally in our Australian waters, there appears to 

 be no sound reason why it should not be used very con- 

 siderably in a commercial way; a few words, therefore, in 

 regard to the principal points of structure, will, no doubt, 

 be welcome. 



Two kinds of Trawl-Net are used: the Beam Trawl 

 and the Otter Trawl. 



The Beam Trawl is a triangular, flat, purse-shaped 

 net, having its wide mouth held open by a horizontal wooden 

 spar called the "beam"; this being raised a short distance 

 from the ground by two iron supports or "heads," one at 

 each end. The upper edge of the mouth of the net is 

 fastened to the beam, while the under portion, or lower edge, 

 drags over the ground as the net is hauled along the 

 bottom. The length of the beam varies, of course, with 

 the size of the net, the latter being commonly about twice 

 the length of the former. Beams up to 50 feet in length 

 are used. The net gradually diminishes in width until near 

 the end, where for a short distance it is of uniform width ; 

 this portion being known as the "cod," or "purse." It is 

 at the cod end that the fishes which are entrapped in the 

 net are mostly collected ; and they are prevented from escap- 

 ing while the net is in use by the cod being closed by 

 means of a "draw-rope." When the net is hoisted in, the 

 draw-rope is cast off, and the fish fall out on to the deck of 

 the vessel. 



Certain constructions in the internal parts of the net, 

 which are made to ensure the retention Ox all fishes finding 

 their way into it, as well as the finer details of structure, 

 need not be here described. 



The Otter Trawl, although used in practically the 

 same manner as the Beam Trawl, differs from the latter 

 very considerably. The most essential difference is that 

 here the "beam" is entirely done away with, the mouth of 



