SOME BRITISH SEA FISHES AND FISHING 245 



offing, which, from their elevated position, they 

 could readily do. 



Presently, from various signs, the rippling of 

 water or the presence at certain spots of gulls 

 and gannets, they discovered a shoal, and waved 

 their arms like frenzied Australian blacks. We 

 on the beach understood what they meant, and 

 the entire male population of the village went 

 trooping to the boats, which they hastily launched, 

 shouting " Hev'ah, hev'ah, hev'ah ! " Then, by the 

 preconcerted signals of the huers, a kind of wire- 

 less telegraphy, 1 the boats were steered towards 

 the shoal. The chief seine was about 1,400 feet 

 long and 60 feet deep, with corks attached to one 

 edge and leaden weights to the other. 



Rowing rapidly round the phosphorescent 

 shoal, and paying out net the while, the principal 

 boats encircled the pilchards as with a fence, 

 while at several points the net was secured by 

 anchors to keep it in its place and allow the 

 catch to be taken out at leisure. This, of course, 

 is only possible in fine weather, and the tides, 

 which run very strongly and might carry away 

 nets and all, have to be carefully considered. Now 

 came in the use of the "tuck" net, bellied in 



1 I \\ould suggest the employment of the Marconi system 

 for this purpose. 



