5io FISHERIES AND FISHERMEN 



out of their hiding-places. It consists of a single spar, 

 called the beam, about as long as from the stern of the 

 boat to the mast, fixed upon two large iron supports or 

 heads, and having a long flat and pocket-shaped net attached 

 to it, the mouth of which is extended by being fastened to 

 either end of the spar. These supports keep the trawl off 

 the bottom, the apparatus being lowered in such a way that 

 the spar always remains uppermost ; and a ground-rope is 

 fastened to the lower margin of the net so arranged as to 

 clip the bottom, and to cause any prey that may be lurking 

 there to pass over it into the meshes. As this rope may by 

 chance be caught in some irremovable obstacle, it ought to 

 be somewhat old and easily broken, otherwise the more 

 valuable part of the apparatus might be in danger of fracture 

 from the resistance. It is, however, protected by a series of 

 gutta-percha rubbing pieces from immediate contact with 

 any rocks or stones, though fair ground only is suit- 

 able for trawling. The net itself is shaped in a very 

 peculiar way. At its extremity is a smaller sort of bag 

 called a purse or a cod, made with a lesser opening and 

 with finer meshes; and half-way from the mouth the 

 upper and lower portions of the net on either side are 

 sewn together for about 16 feet, forming two enormous 

 pockets or valves, the mouths of which opening towards 

 the cod leave a kind of valve or curtain flapping in front 

 of it, on account of the greater resistance of the water due 

 to the finer meshes with which that part is made. When the 

 trawl is lowered, it is necessary that the vessel should be 

 under sail, and proceeding through the water at a greater 

 rate than the tide. This is required to keep the net 

 extended as it descends, and to prevent it from twisting 

 or otherwise getting out of gear. As soon then as the 

 ground-rope reaches the bottom the fish disturbed from 



