THE IRISH FISHERIES 



the effect that it is more peaceable than any kitten. But 

 it is a shark all the same, let Patrick call it what he 

 likes ; the basker, which, in warm weather, spends most 

 of its days lying almost on the water-surface as though 

 revelling in the sun's rays. It is as strong as a whale, 

 but undoubtedly quite harmless, and no fisherman ever 

 takes any notice of it. 



These western and southern beds are very treacherous 

 to the poor trawlers, and a skipper who does not know 

 every square yard of the bottom had better keep clear 

 of them. Sometimes, while on such a sand-bed as we 

 have just been peacefully drifting over, there will be a 

 sudden, violent jerk on the boat the higher the wind the 

 more this will be perceived. Sometimes she will lie over 

 for a moment like a yacht tacking; the skipper springs 

 across to the helm arid puts the boat about, shouting 

 directions to the crew and, if he be a humorist, which 

 most of these fellows are, observing that they have 

 " netted a rock." In a fairly high wind the towlines 

 have been known to snap when this has taken place; 

 then, of course, all hope of saving the gear is at an end. 

 As it is, the smack must, if possible, get to the farther 

 side of the rock and tow the net backwards from under 

 it an impossible feat if the wind chooses to be contrary ; 

 at best it will be something like trying to turn a hay-cart 

 in a narrow lane. 



Then the trawl is winched up, and the extreme light- 

 ness of it tells a sorry tale ; the net is certainly empty 

 or nearly so, and, as the beam is taken on board, it may 

 be seen that the net hangs straight and flat in the water 



197 



