THE SEINE OR SEAN. 291 



confusion if, instead of calling it a "trawl," they would 

 generally adopt the more intelligible name of "seine-trawl" 

 for this net. 



The commonest form of seine is that usually known as 

 the ground-seine or foot-seine, sometimes called a scringe- 

 net. It is in very general use, for it can be worked without 

 any difficulty, and even when of very small size may be 

 the means of catching a fair variety and number of fish. 

 The peculiarity in its working is that it is always hauled in 

 on shore, and, that being the case, there is no necessity for 

 the wings to be made of such fine netting as is desirable at 

 the middle or bunt where the fish sooner or later collect, 

 and the greatest pressure is felt. Each wing has an 

 upright pole to which the ends of the upper and lower 

 edges the back and the foot of the net are fastened, and 

 to this pole a long drag-rope is attached for the purpose of 

 hauling in the net. When the seine is to be shot the end 

 of one of the drag-ropes is left on shore in charge of some 

 of the fishermen, and the whole of the net with the rope at 

 the other end is put into the seine-boat, which is then 

 rowed out from the shore, and after shooting the net in a 

 semicircle, returns with the second rope to the beach. The 

 two ropes are then slowly hauled in, the two parties of 

 fishermen, one at each rope, gradually approaching each 

 other as the seine comes to land until at last they meet, 

 and the bunt of the net in which all the fish are collected 

 is then drawn on shore. As the ground-seine may be 

 made of very moderate dimensions it is very convenient for 

 amateurs who may not be able to muster hands enough to 

 work a large net. It is therefore frequently used by 

 yachting men in the harbours they are in the habit of 

 visiting, and it can be easily worked, as we have said, 



wherever the bottom is tolerably smooth and there is a bit 



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