BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER COBRESPONDENCE, ETC. 399 

 DEFINITION OF TBAWLINO. 



In the first place, a considerable amount of confusion exists as to 

 the use of the term trawling and what it really applies to. 



The name is used on the American side of the Atlantic to denote 

 a totally different style of fishing from that carried on under the 

 same name in any European waters. 



Trawling as understood and carried on by United States, Cana- 

 dian and Newfoundland fishermen, is simply fishing for cod, had- 

 dock, and other round fish, with long lines to which are attached a 

 great many baited hooks, at intervals of about one fathom. 



These lines are called trawls, and are set in the water, anchored, 

 and buoyed, and hauled in from " dories " or small boats. They 

 stretch over a considerable portion of the fishing ground on which 

 they happen to be set. 



This mode of fishing is also common in Europe, but it is known only 

 by the name of long or great line fishing. 



The term trawling, on the other hand, as used in Europe is ap- 

 plied to a method of fishing which consists in the dragging of a 

 strong bag-shaped net over the sea bottom, by either sailing or steam 

 vessels, for the capture of both round and flat fish. 



Trawling, as such then, has been carried on in European waters' 

 for very many years. As long ago as the year 1839. regulations, for 

 the carrying on of this and other kinds of fishing in the English 

 channel, were framed at a convention, concluded at Paris, in August 

 of that year, between representatives of the British and French gov- 

 ernments. Article XVI of the said convention says that ' Trawl 

 fishing may be carried on during all seasons in the seas lying between 

 the fishery limits which have been fixed for the two countries.' Other 

 articles regulate the length of beam and size of mesh of the net to 

 be used, besides laying down rules for prevention of trouble between 

 trawl boats and herring or mackerel boats during fishing operations, 

 and which I shall touch upon later in this report. 



There are two distinct kinds of trawling carried on in the North 

 Sea and bearing two distinctive names, viz : Beam trawling and otter 

 trawling. 



Again, there are sailing trawlers vessels propelled by wind alone 

 and steam trawlers those propelled by steam. 



THE BEAM TBAWL. 



Beam trawling, being the original method, is by far the older of 

 the two. 



The instrument known as a beam trawl, as the name implies, con- 

 sists of a wooden yard or beam of a length varying from 40 to 50 

 feet, made as a rule, of elm or some other tough wood. This beam 

 is supported at each end by a triangular shaped iron frame, called 

 a head-piece, into which are fitted the ends of the beam. 



The height of the beam, when resting on the head-pieces, is about 

 four feet from the ground. The net takes the shape of a huge bag, 

 and may be of any length from mouth to bottom. 



The upper part of the mouth of the net is fastened to the beam, 

 and the under part, along which runs a ground rope, is secured to 

 the bottom of the head irons, thus keeping the mouth open. The 



