DIFFICULTIES AND REMEDIES , 



almost clear of the water, they were in a little bunch, 

 splashing ankle-deep in the surf and falling eagerly 

 on the catch, which was put in a pad or tub, or the 

 boat itself. As soon as this had been done the boat 

 was pulled out again and precisely the same opera- 

 tion was repeated, the total time occupied being 

 about half-an-hour. As a rule the catches were not 

 great, the result of a haul at times being no more 

 than a few pounds' weight, and some even of that 

 small total being immature fish ; yet this form of 

 fishing appreciably affected the supplies of food in 

 certain localities, especially as the work was carried 

 on during Sundays as well as week-days. The men 

 were peculiar by reason of wearing a broad waist- 

 band of coarse material which served as a protection 

 from the chafing of the hauling-ropes. Their cloth- 

 ing varied, but it was mostly that of the ordinary 

 longshoreman, and a battered bowler would keep 

 ipany with a pair of badly worn ordinary boots 

 or shoes. Sometimes a man would have waterproof 

 overalls, but these gave only slight protection, and 

 generally speaking the men were salt-water soaked 

 up to the thighs. This, however, was a minor dis- 

 comfort, especially in the fine weather, in which 

 alone the particular method of fishing described 

 could be carried on; and in the majority of cases 

 the men were within easy reach of their homes, 

 where a change of kit and rest were available. 



The regulations concerning fishing were necessa- 

 rily stringent, but occasionally, as local cireum- 

 s arose, they were somewhat relaxed to meet 



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