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The herring nets are differently constructed and fewer, 

 only 25 to 30 nets, of about 100 yards each being used, 

 but they are much deeper than the mackerel nets, and not 

 secured or floated similarly. There is no foot line or sole 

 rope. All the connections are at the top. The small 

 buoys that float the nets are secured to them by the stop- 

 pers, which are 5 or 6 fathoms long, so that the herring nets 

 lie many feet under water. 



About two fathoms above the nets the warp or spring 

 back is run, fastened to the stoppers, and the net itself 

 hangs free. 



New nets require a little lead to sink them, but when 

 they are in use for some time they sink readily themselves. 



Having shown the construction of the nets, I shall now 

 describe how they are worked, and point out improvements 

 on the existing system. 



In mackerel fishing the boat must, if possible, reach the 

 fishing ground before sunset, as it is always desirable to 

 " shoot " the nets before that time. The " ground " having 

 been ascertained by the presence of gannets, puffins and 

 oily-looking water, the nets are begun to be " shot " or 

 thrown out, the boat still sailing. This process occupies 

 about thirty-five minutes. When the net is "shot" the 

 sails are lowered, and the mast too, and the boat " lies to " 

 her nets until about an hour after midnight, when they are 

 begun to be hauled in. 



It is during this operation that much time is lost at the 

 ground, for it takes from six to nine hours, according to the 

 weather and quantity of fish, or the nets. Of late years 

 various applications of steam have been used for haul- 

 ing instead of the old windlass ; and it is certain that 

 steam winches cause a saving both of labour and of 

 time, to a considerable extent. The nets are hauled 



