AND LINE-FISHING 



minutes. In the bows is a powerful windlass to which 

 the fore-bridle, or else a tow-line connected with the two 

 bridles, is fixed, and then the winding up begins hard 

 work even for a couple of strong men accustomed to such 

 labour. If the net is being pulled up by the fore-bridle 

 only, two other men are working in the stern, hauling in 

 the aft-bridle ; if by a tow-line, they stand by to haul on 

 the after-bridle as soon as it comes in sight. At last the 

 beam comes up, is hoisted in, and the full net hangs over 

 the side, half in the water. Now a space must be made 

 for the fish. From the main-hatch to the after-cabin a 

 plank is laid on its edge on either side, thereby making, 

 with the uprights of the hatchways, a rectangular case 

 into which the net may be emptied. 



As far as in them lies, these Dutch fishers evince the 

 same momentary excitement over the contents of the net 

 that we have seen among the trawlers. After looking at 

 a full trawl-net this one seems curiously small and empty ; 

 and, as a hauling-line is thrown round the waist of the 

 net, it looks as though we could pull it out of the water 

 with one hand ; nevertheless, there is four hundredweight 

 or more in that bag-like contrivance, and the men find 

 quite enough difficulty in hoisting it out of the water 

 and over the bulwarks. 



The mouth is laid inside the temporary enclosure, and 

 then, with a good deal of lifting and shaking, the catch 

 is emptied, the net examined in case of possible breakages 

 among the meshes, and then thrown in again. 



Now have a look at the catch ; a most interesting sight 

 when seen for the first time ; a grey-green, glistening, and 



45 



