DRIFT-NET FISHING. 285 



cobles on the Northumberland coast, and the number and 

 size of the nets differ accordingly ; but they are all worked on 

 the same system, and if we say a few words on the method 

 adopted at Yarmouth it will no doubt be sufficient to enable 

 the general mode of working to be understood. The time 

 universally chosen for " shooting " or putting out the nets is 

 just before sunset ; and the vessel having arrived in what 

 the master has reason to think a likely place for fish a 

 point about which there is generally some degree of specu- 

 lation, she is put before the wind, and as she sails slowly 

 along, the net is shot over the quarter, that is, over the side 

 near the stern. Whilst this is going on the men are distri- 

 buted at regular stations, some handing up the net from the 

 net-room, others throwing it overboard and taking care 

 that it falls in the right position, others, again, looking after 

 the warp and seeing that the seizings, or ropes from the net, 

 are made fast to it at their proper distances. Everything 

 has to be done in the most methodical manner, or the net 

 may become twisted, or something else may go wrong so 

 as to spoil the night's fishing. When, however, all the net 

 is in the water, and fifteen or twenty fathoms of extra warp, 

 termed the " swing-rope " are paid out, the warp is carried 

 from the stern to the bow of the vessel ; she is then brought 

 round head to wind, the ordinary sails are taken in, the 

 principal mast is lowered backwards until it can rest on a 

 wooden crutch, and a small sail called the " drift-mizen " is 

 set on the mizen mast so as to keep the vessel head to 

 wind. The regulation lights one over the other, to show 

 she is fishing are then hoisted, and part of the crew being 

 told off as a watch upon deck, the vessel and nets are 

 allowed to drift with the tide. 



As it is important that a strain should be kept on the 

 nets so as to extend them, it will be understood why the 



