THE DREF-GARN. 173 



the net ; and to insure success, both should well understand 

 their business. When such part of the river is reached as is 

 favourable for the purpose, the Dubb K is thrown to some 

 little distance into the water, and whilst the boat is pulled 

 across the stream, and directly from the Dubb, the net is paid 

 away as fast as possible, and the feeling-stone gradually 

 lowered to the bottom. The hand-line is kept well in hand, 

 and shortened or lengthened according to the depth of water. 

 This in our part of the Gotha was very unequal ; for in some 

 of the casts, of which there were upwards of twenty, we had 

 only a fathom or two, whilst in others, on the contrary, as 

 much as six or eight fathoms, or even more. And as the 

 feeling-stone revolves on its axis like a wheel, it keeps pace 

 with the net itself, as, impelled by the current, it sweeps 

 along the bottom of the river. By directing the move- 

 ments of the boat, in accordance with the Dubb, which, 

 from being blacked by fire or paint, is perceptible on the 

 water, even in the darkest nights, one is always enabled to 

 keep the net in its proper position. 



On the instant of the fish coming in contact with the 

 net, the man holding the hand-line sings out vtind ! or turn ; 

 which order his comrade promptly obeys, and bringing the 

 boat's head about in a half-circle down stream, the fish 

 is partially surrounded. In the meantime the fisherman 

 hauls up the net as rapidly as possible, and as soon as 

 the fish comes to the surface, it is either at once lifted on 

 board ; or should he be very heavy, and apparently not very 

 securely entangled in the net, the man secures him with an 

 implement called a Kaks ? Fig. 3 always at hand, which is 

 plunged into the body of the fish. 



Unless the water be discoloured, the Dref-Garn cannot be 



