264 APPARATUS FOR FISHING. 



The importance of the trawl fishery is so great that we 

 have thought it desirable to give tolerably full details of 

 the apparatus employed in it, and it may be interesting if 

 we also give some account of the manner in which the net 

 is worked. Of course, nothing but practical experience on 

 board a trawler will enable one to thoroughly understand 

 all the points to be considered in working under the 

 varying conditions of wind and tide, but the general mode 

 of proceeding may be more easily explained. A favourable 

 tide is the first thing to be desired, one of only moderate 

 strength, as the trawl, which is always towed as much as 

 possible in the direction of, but a little faster than, the 

 stream, then works steadily and is easily kept upon the 

 ground. Supposing the vessel to be on her fishing ground, 

 the first part of the tide is chosen for commencing work, as 

 she can then tow in one direction for several hours, and the 

 usual practice is to keep the trawl down till the tide has 

 done, about five or six hours at a time. The vessel is put 

 under easy sail in the direction in which she is going to 

 tow, depending on the wind being suitable for going with 

 the tide. This is of such importance that when the wind is 

 dead against the tide it is impossible to work, and the 

 fishermen can only beat up against the wind so as to take 

 up a suitable position for trawling in the opposite direction 

 as soon as the tide has turned, or if the fishing ground be a 

 large one, as in some parts of the North Sea, they heave-to 

 and wait for the favourable time. Most persons who have 

 seen a trawl-vessel in harbour, or coming in or going to sea, 

 will have noticed the long trawl-beam, with the curiously- 

 shaped head-irons at each end, resting on the top of the 

 bulwark, usually on the port or left side of the vessel, and 

 the immense net lying in irregular folds along the top of 

 the beam. This is where the trawl is stowed when it is 



