THE PILCHARD THE STURGEON 



they see them they signal by means of a white canvas ball 

 to the boats that are lying in wait below. 



Ever since the reign of Queen Elizabeth this fishery has 

 been closely protected and governed by Acts of Parlia- 

 ment ; the law even decides as to the dimensions of the 

 nets, every one of which has to be registered. St. Ives 

 has over three hundred nets, and is the centre of six 

 specially appointed fishing-stations. 



The net most in use is the seine and that of gigantic 

 proportions ; the smallest allowed for out-fishing being a 

 hundred and sixty fathoms long, eight fathoms deep at 

 the middle, and six at the ends. These belong principally 

 to companies nowadays, but a few private individuals still 

 embark in the trade. Fleets of drift-nets, seven fathoms 

 deep and three-quarters of a mile long, are also used, and 

 are worked like herring-nets. 



The old-fashioned " seine-boat " is a ponderous craft 

 thirty-two feet long, manned by a crew of eight six to 

 row and two to manage the gear. Before sunset she is 

 lying off the shore, awaiting the signal from the men on 

 the look-out, and, the moment that comes, she pulls away 

 as directed by them. With her are two shorter boats, 

 each with six men aboard, and behind her she tows a 

 third a little cock-boat or " lurker," from which the 

 skipper gives his orders and superintends the manipula- 

 tion of the net ; thus a pilchard-seine takes four boats to 

 manage it. 



At such work as this there is little time for spells 

 of idleness ; hard, heavy rowing, often against wind and 

 current, is the oarsmen^s portion ; unceasing vigilance that 



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