THE BE A M- TRA WL. 263 



but enables a considerable quantity of ice to be carried, 

 now a necessary condition of North Sea trawling. Stow- 

 age is. also provided for the produce of several days' fishing, 

 when, as is the rule, except during the calm summer 

 months, these trawlers stay out for several days at a time, 

 and bring home their own fish instead of sending it in by 

 carrying vessels, which at certain seasons collect the fish 

 from a fleet of trawlers and take it to market. 



The cost of trawl-smacks has greatly increased of late 

 years, not only on account of their larger size, but 

 because of the higher price that has now to be paid for 

 everything connected with their construction. In 1862, 

 a trawler, ready for sea, and what was then considered one 

 of the larger class, could be built and fitted out for 700 or 

 ;8oo ; but one of the new class of vessels cannot be turned 

 out at the present time for less than about 1 600. This 

 includes a fit-out of all that is required for fishing, which 

 costs from 70 to 80. A fit-out consists of a double set 

 of almost every part of the gear, to provide against acci- 

 dents, and to save the time which would otherwise be lost 

 if the vessel were obliged to return to port before she had 

 done a fair quantity of work. If a trawl-net meets with no 

 serious accident it will last from three to four months, 

 according to the nature of the ground worked on ; but 

 during that time parts of it will have to be renewed. The 

 back of the net, being exposed to least wear, lasts the 

 longest ; the under parts will generally require renewing 

 twice, and the cod or purse five or six times, before the 

 whole net is finally condemned ; so that trawling gear* 

 involves considerable expense to keep it in good working 

 order at the best of times, and in case of accidents, by 

 which sometimes the whole net and beam are lost, the cost 

 is greatly increased. 



