2 68 APPARATUS FOR FISHING. 



when it is at work. This net is specially constructed for 

 catching what are called ground-fish, those which, as a rule, 

 keep at the bottom, and naturally hide more or less under 

 the sand or mud. With trifling exceptions, all the turbot, 

 brill, soles, and plaice brought to market, are caught by the 

 trawl ; the various kinds of skate or ray are obtained for 

 the most part by the same means ; and notwithstanding 

 the peculiar habit all these fish have of lying quite close to 

 the ground and partially covered, they have very little 

 chance of escaping when once the trawl-beam has passed 

 over them. Rough stones or rocks on the bottom would 

 soon tear the net to pieces ; and even on smooth ground 

 there is danger of meeting with obstructions big enough to 

 hold the net, sometimes resulting in breaking either the 

 beam or the trawl-warp. Clean ground is therefore of the 

 first importance for trawling ; it is there that flat-fish are, 

 most likely to be found, and the action of the trawl is 

 specially such as to secure them. The trawl, as has been 

 said, is always towed with the tide, but a little faster than 

 it is running. Were it otherwise, the net, being lighter 

 than the beam, weighted as it is with the trawl-irons, would 

 be liable to be drifted forwards and to prevent the entrance 

 of the fish. The resistance of the water caused by the 

 trawl going a little faster than the tide this excess of 

 speed varying according to circumstances from half a knot 

 to a knot and a half in an hour keeps the net expanded 

 and in a proper position behind the beam. The ground- 

 rope then does its duty. Its "biting" action, or close 

 pressure on the ground over which it is towed, is of the 

 greatest importance when soles, turbot, and other flat-fish 

 are worked for, as these fish when disturbed do not rise 

 from the ground as is the habit with whiting, haddock, 

 gurnards, etc., but seek safety in the sand. When, there- 



