THE BEAM- TRA WL. 265 



not in use, and is conveniently placed for putting overboard 

 when the net is to be lowered. This then would be the 

 position when they are going to begin fishing. The vessel 

 then being slowly sailed along her intended course, the 

 first thing to be done is to get the net overboard, beginning 

 with the small end and throwing it out or " shooting " it 

 until the whole is hanging from the beam and towing 

 alongside. The rope holding up the front end of the beam 

 is then slacked away till that part of the beam is well clear 

 of the vessel, and, being caught by the water, is turned 

 outwards at nearly a right angle, or square with the stern. 

 The other end is then lowered from the stern till the whole 

 beam is level in the water with the net streaming away 

 behind it ; and if the trawl is then in a proper position, that 

 is, with the back uppermost and the ground-rope below, 

 more sail is put on the vessel, the two ropes fastened to 

 the head-irons at the ends of the beam are slowly and 

 evenly paid out till the shackle joining them to the trawl- 

 warp is reached ; then if all appears to be going right the 

 warp itself is steadily given out, and the trawl is allowed to 

 slowly sink to the bottom. 



It will hardly be necessary to point out why the vessel 

 should be moving through the water, although not very 

 fast, when the trawl is being lowered. It will be obvious 

 that if the apparatus is to reach the bottom with the trawl- 

 irons under the beam, and the lower part of the net and the 

 ground-rope in their proper position below, no risk must be 

 run of the net turning round or twisting as it is being 

 lowered. There would, of course, be great danger of this 

 happening if the vessel were not moving ; the net would in 

 such a case hang perpendicularly, and the beam would be 

 very liable to twist round, so that it would be a mere matter 

 of chance whether the upper or under side of the net and 



