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the results. In the Boxing system the fish is packed in 

 boxes, and ferried each morning to the steam cutter in 

 attendance, is then put below and covered in ice, and soon 

 the cutter is on her passage to Hull or London. In the 

 Bulking fleet, as it is termed, the fish is ferried to the sailing 

 cutter and then placed below in compartments or pounds, 

 each kind by itself, and placed in alternate layers of ice 

 and fish without boxes. On arrival at market the fish is 

 picked up by hand and filled in kits or turns, and sold in 

 Hull, by weight, and Billingsgate, London, by package. 



When October comes a considerable number of boats 

 leave the Box fleet, and the Bulk fleets break up partner- 

 ship and then resort to the single boating system, by which 

 each boat is on his own venture and goes to what fishing 

 ground he fancies most. By taking in a stock of ice of from 

 5 to 8 tons, a vessel will continue on the fishing ground 

 until he has secured sufficient to come with as a paying 

 voyage. They will sometimes remain away three or even 

 four weeks, going so far as 240 miles or more from Spurn to 

 the Fisher Bank and beyond, and fishing in 40 to 48 fathoms 

 of water. These boats are mostly supplied with steam 

 capstans, and from 1 50 to 200 fathoms 7^ inch trawl warp is 

 required. The application of ice and steam to trawling ha 

 brought about wonderful changes ; by its aid the vessels 

 have by degrees extended their searches after the finny 

 tribe. All over the North Sea, and there is not a patch of 

 ground in it that is not as well known to the experienced 

 fisherman as the land on which we dwell, and in confidence 

 he treads the deck as 



" O'er the blue sea 

 His gallant barque bounds merrily," 



bringing home to thousands of toiling creatures cheap and 

 wholesome food. 



