THE FISHERMAN'S TOOLS 



not only nets and lines, but also a means of getting at 

 somewhat closer quarters with those fish which cannot be 

 caught very near to the shore boats and ships. 



The raft, the rudest type of water conveyance, is now, 

 except by some of the Japanese and Chinese fishermen, 

 used only by savages and boys. It has no particular 

 shape or construction, and often no means of steering. 

 It is said that the Phoenicians, who colonised Corsica and 

 other islands near Italy, had no better craft in which to 

 reach their destination ; if so, the journey must have 

 been a work of time and patience. 



The open boat, the shape of which varies only triflingly 

 in different parts of the world, comes next. Being of such 

 light build and not affording much storage accommoda- 

 tion, one often thinks of it as merely an accessory to 

 larger fishing-boats ; yet on most coasts it is to be found 

 used independently ; and, for certain kinds of work line- 

 fishing, crabbing, etc. it has a world-wide popularity. 

 It draws so little water that it can be safely used where 

 larger boats would go aground or strike the rocks ; often 

 its very lightness is its strongest recommendation ; for, 

 where a larger vessel may have to struggle with the wind 

 or get becalmed for want of it, the open boat, propelled 

 by stout oarsmen, can force a passage with more or less 

 ease. Fitted with a "lug," i.e. a square sail fixed to a 

 yard that hangs obliquely to the mast, it is used along 

 the east coast for fishing on a small scale. A long open 

 boat provided with two lug-sails, known as a Scotch 

 lugger, is still a great favourite with the North Sea 

 herring-fishers. 



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