52 SEA-FISHING. 



measuring three or four feet; this is thrown 

 into the water from a boat ; the mouth of the 

 net is extended by a wooden frame, which is 

 not permitted to sink more than 'four feet 

 below the level of the water. Large quantities 

 are captured at the mouth of the Thames. 



Of the ordinary nets employed we may 

 notice 



Tlie Sean. This is a long net ; the upper rope 

 to which it is fastened has rounds of cork, at 

 equal distances, and the lower rope has lead 

 round at equal distances, which suspends the 

 net in the water, presenting a wall of im- 

 passable meshes. This net is coiled in a boat ; 

 one of the end ropes is left on shore, and the 

 boat is rowed out. The net is payed out into 

 the water, the lead side sinking, and the upper 

 (cork side) floating. The boat then sweeps 

 round, dropping the net in a semicircle; and, 

 having embraced as much space as the net will 

 surround, the boat returns to the shore, and 

 lands the rope at the other end. A gang of 

 men draw each of the ropes, gradually ap- 

 proaching each other, and the net is brought 

 on shore, with all the fish within its orbit. 

 The net itself is of strong twine, and the 

 meshes generally small. A single sean has 

 been known to enclose at once as much as 

 twelve tons of fish. The fish are removed from 

 the sean at low water, in small nets called tuck 

 nets. A good deal of salmon is caught at the 

 mouths of rivers with this net. 



The Trammel net, when set, stands in this 

 position : The line at each end has a weight at 



