2l6 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



The eel-nets were like huge bags, large at one end, and 

 narrowing rapidly. The mesh at the large end was about two 

 inches in diameter, but it quickly lessened until it was so 

 small that a minnow could not have got through it. The 

 mouth of the net was made sufficiently wide to stretch across 

 the river, and, in order to keep the body of it distended, wooden 

 hoops were placed at intervals down it. To each hoop inside 

 the net was attached an inner circle of net, which narrowed to 

 a small opening, like the principle on which some mouse-traps 

 are constructed, so that the eels having passed through the 

 narrow inlet could not find the way back again. The end 

 portion of the net, comprising the last four hoops, is made in a 

 separate piece or pocket, and is only fastened to the net when 

 it is fishing. The juncture is marked with a rope and buoy. 



The men now fastened a heavy chain along one half of the 

 lower side of the mouth of the net. This was the side which was to 

 lie along the bottom of the river, and the chain was to keep it 

 down. The net was now taken on board the boat, and the men 

 rowed a little way down the river, followed by the crew of the 

 Swan. The net was put out so that the base rested on the 

 bottom. Heavy weights were fixed at the two bottom corners 

 of the net, and the two top corners were tied to posts fixed by 

 the side of the river. The men now sounded with a pole, to see 

 that the chain lay across along the bottom. While they did so 

 the boat heeled over so much that Dick said, 



" Another inch and the stream would be over the gunwale, 

 and those fellows would be pitched into the net and drowned." 



The net was now pulled out far down the river, and the 

 pocket tied on, and then it was left to itself. 



" Don't the wherries ever do any damage to the nets ? " 

 asked Jimmy. 



" Sometimes, sir ; but they know where they are set, and 

 they takes care where they put their quants if they be quant- 

 ing ; and if they be sailing they pass over the nets without doing 

 them any harm." 



After this they set another net lower down, and then they 

 returned to the hut, and, sitting by the peat fire, they had some 

 hot tea, and waited for an hour, knowing that the eels were 

 rushing down stream, and into the nets. 



The wind howled dismally over the marshes, and the rain 

 hissed on the water. 



