602 THE OCEAN WORLD. 



round the shoal, the two extremities are made fast, and the fish are 

 imprisoned within an oblong barrier of netting. The art is how to let 

 as few of the pilchards escape as possible while the process is being 

 completed. Whenever the * huer ' observes that they are startled, and 

 separating at any particular point, he waves his bush, and thither the 

 boat is steered, and there the net is shot at once ; the fish are thus 

 headed and thwarted in every direction with extraordinary address 

 and skill. This labour completed, the silence of intense expectation 

 that has hitherto prevailed is broken, there is a shout of joy on all 

 sides the shoal is secured. 



" The ' seine ' is now regarded as a great reservoir of fish. It may 

 remain in the water a week or more; to secure it against being 

 moved from its position, in case a gale should come on, it is warped 

 by two or three ropes to points of land in the cliff, and is at the same 

 time contracted in circuit by its opposite ends being brought together 

 and passed lightly over its breadth for several feet. While these 

 operations are being performed, another boat, another set of men, and 

 another net, are approaching the scene of action. 



" The new net is called the ' tuck ; ; it is smaller than the 'seine,' 

 inside which it is to be let down, for the purpose of bringing the fish 

 close to the surface. The men who manage this net are called 

 ' regular sewers. 7 The boat is first of all rowed inside the seine-net, 

 and laid close to the seine-boat, which remains stationary outside. 

 To its bows one rope at the end of the tuck-net is fastened. The 

 tuck-boat now slowly makes the inner circle of the seine, the smaller 

 net being dropped overboard, and attached to the seine at intervals 

 as she goes. To prevent the fish from getting between the two nets 

 during the operation, they are frightened into the middle of the 

 enclosure by beating the water with oars, and stones fastened to ropes, 

 When the * tuck ' has at length travelled round the whole circle of 

 the ' seine/ and is securely fastened to the seine-boat at the end as it 

 was at the beginning, everything is prepared for the great event of 

 the day hauling the fish to the surface. 



" Now all is excitement on sea and shore ; every little boat in 

 the place puts ofT, crammed with idle spectators ; boys shout, dogs 

 bark, and the shrill voices of the former are joined by the deep voices 

 of the 'seiners.' There they stand, six or eight stalwart, sun-burnt 

 fellows, ranged in a row in the seine-boat, hauling with all their 

 might at the * tuck '-net, and roaring out the nautical * Yo, heave ho!' 

 in chorus. Higher and higher -rises the net ; louder and louder 

 shout the boys and the idlers ; the * huer/ so calm and collected 

 hitherto, Joses his self-possession, and waves his cap triumphantly. 



