276 APPARATUS FOR FISHING. 



The otter-board for such a net as has been described is an 

 oblong piece of stout board two feet high and nearly three 

 feet and a half long ; the front lower angle is rounded off 

 so as not to catch in the ground, and the whole lower edge 

 of the board is weighted with a heavy iron shoe, as it is 

 that part which is to be kept at the bottom. The end of 

 each wing of the trawl is fastened to the square end of an 

 otter-board, the round end of the board going in front, and 

 all that is now wanted is to make fast a rope to the inner 

 side of the board, in just such a position as a string is 

 fastened to a kite. These ropes from the otters exactly 

 correspond with the two ropes or bridles, one from each end 

 of the beam in the beam-trawl, and like them the ends are 

 shackled on to the warp by which the trawl is towed. 

 Putting out or " shooting " the otter-trawl is generally done 

 over the stern of the vessel, and the two ropes are brought 

 round one on each side of it, so as to separate the wings of 

 the net as much as possible from the first ; and when the 

 vessel begins to move slowly along, the pressure of the 

 water acts on the otter-boards as the wind does on the kite. 

 The direction of the otters, however, is not upwards but out- 

 wards, as they are weighted on the lower side and are too 

 heavy to float ; and as the strain on them continues they 

 gradually work their way out in opposite directions until 

 the two wings and the mouth of the net are expanded in a 

 wide curve, the weighted foot of the whole extent of net 

 being on the ground, and the corked back-rope keeping 

 the upper edge of the net fully extended above it. The 

 net is then towed with the tide, and is worked in just the 

 same manner as has been described in the case of the 

 beam-trawl. The two ropes or bridles leading from the 

 otters, are much longer than would be used with a beam- 

 trawl, as the front of the net with the wings spreads out to a 



