THE BRITISH HERRING FISHERY 



the direction of the net-fleet, and bladders and cork-line 

 are dragged under ; the tow- warp groans, and strains on 

 the boat. The main body is encountering the nets, and 

 the crew no longer care whether the Argyle has made a 

 strike or no ; at any rate their boat has. They shuffle to 

 their feet without a word from the skipper, for ex- 

 perience of him and his methods has taught them that, 

 if he is not one to be in an unnecessary hurry, he equally 

 is not given to letting his nets get fouled or sunk, through 

 a foolish desire to catch more fish than he can possibly 

 carry away. 



Seizing the sodden warp, they drag and strain till 

 sufficient of it is hauled in to go round the windlass ; and 

 not till then does one of them untie the end of it from the 

 cross-bit. Irish or South Country fishermen would bid 

 him hurry himself, in no measured terms, for the strain is 

 unspeakable, even on these tough muscles and strong-knit 

 frames ; but the more phlegmatic Northerners just bide 

 their time and wait patiently while the end of the warp is 

 hitched to the windlass or the capstan, and till the click- 

 click of the ratch stops, telling them that the man who is 

 turning has taken in as much rope as, unaided, he is able. 

 Then one or two of them join him at the windlass, while 

 the rest stretch themselves and prepare for the further 

 task of drawing the nets over the gunwale. A few more 

 turns of the winch and the first bladder is lifted in and 

 the top corner of the nearest net comes into view. Again 

 the streaks of greenish light, more tangible now; again 

 the popping, buzzing sound; then you realise that 

 hundreds, or thousands, of the herring, caught fast by 



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