BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE/ ETC. 593 



Ihe same time there has been an enlargement of the nets, although 

 not quite in the same ratio. The trawl is towed over the ground 

 by the trawl-warp, generally a 6-inch rope 150 fathoms long, and 

 made up of two lengths of 75 fathoms each spliced together; one 

 end of this warp is shackled to two other pieces each 15 fathoms 

 long and called the " spans or bridles," which lead one to each end 

 of the beam, and are shackled to swivel-bolts in front of the iron 

 heads so as to give a fair pull on the whole apparatus. 



The great development of the trawl fishery in recent years has led 

 to a vast improvement in the kind of fishing vessels employed in it. 

 Fifty years ago the only deep-sea trawlers were in the west of Eng- 

 land, and from Barking on the Thames. They were not nearly the 

 tonnage of many of the vessels now used in the North Sea, but were 

 stout, heavy, seagoing craft of their size, and capable of standing 

 almost any description of weather; and, although comfortable, they 

 were certainly not very fast. At that date, however, the fish went 

 into consumption at once, instead of being sent one or two hundred 

 miles before it reached the consumer. The increased demand for 

 fish of late years has led to the building of trawlers of the best de- 

 scription, as remarkable for their fast sailing as for other improved 

 qualities. There is racing home now from the fishing grounds to 

 catch the first of the market, and everything is done as quickly as 

 possible to ensure quick distribution and delivery all over the country. 

 The cost of the vessels has of course largely increased, not only from 

 their greater size, but also because of the much higher price now paid 

 for everything used in their construction. In 1862 a new trawl 

 vessel, and what was at that time considered one of the larger class, 

 could be built and fitted out ready for sea for 700 or 800; but 

 it costs from 1200 to 1300 to turn out one of the vessels now com- 

 monly used in the North Sea fishery. This includes a supply of 

 everything necessary for fishing, costing about 70 or 80. A proper 

 fit-out consists of a double set of almost every part of the gear, so as 

 to provide against accidents, and generally to save the time which 

 would be lost if the trawler were obliged to return to port before he 

 had done a fair quantity of work. A trawl-net will perhaps last 

 from two to four months, according to the nature of the ground 

 worked upon; but during that time parts of it will have to be re- 

 newed. The back of the net, being exposed to the least wear, lasts 

 the longest; the under part will generally require renewing twice, 

 and the cod or purse five or six times, before the net is finally con- 

 demned. The additional size now given to the trawl vessels has led 

 to an alteration in the manner in which they are rigged. The term 

 " smack " has been for a long tune applied to those trading and fish- 

 ing craft which were cutter rigged, and until quite recent years all 

 the trawlers were known as trawl-smacks. It was a convenient rig; 

 the single mast was stepped well forward so as to allow of a large 

 and powerful mainsail, at the same time giving plenty of free space 

 on deck for getting in the net, and stowing it and the long trawl- 

 beam on the top of the bulwark when not at work. But when the size 

 of the vessels was increased to 70 or 80 tons, it was found that the 

 mainsail, enlarged in proportion, wanted a good deal more looking 

 after in bad weather than was convenient, and the heavier main- 

 boom caused a great deal of straining. More hands became neces- 



