296 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



are prevented by a peculiar contrivance from getting back 

 again. Escaping these dangers, the Salmon are very 

 likely to be caught in the seins, or drag-nets, with which 

 the open reaches of the river are incessantly swept by 

 means of boats called cobles. 



" Halves " and " Bag-nets " are used with the hand in 

 estuaries or tideways. The former consists of a funnel- 

 shaped net ending in a pocket or bag the mouth of the 

 net being stretched upon an oblong frame about 3 yards 

 wide attached to a pole or handle. With the flowing of the 

 tide, a number of halve-men range themselves in a close line 

 across the sands with the mouths of their nets facing the 

 current : as the stream rises, it becomes too deep for the 

 man furthest out, who accordingly takes up his net and 

 places himself at the inside extremity of the line and so 

 on in rotation. On the halve-net being entered by a 

 Salmon, the mouth is immediately raised above water so 

 as to prevent the fish's retreat. Bag-nets are worked in a 

 somewhat similar manner, by being dropped from stages 

 or platforms projected into the tideway : in this case the 

 fishermen are generally concealed by hurdles. In Wales a 

 species of net is commonly used termed a ' ' Trammel " or 

 " Horn-net," which is drawn down stream between two 

 Coracles a small description of boat formed of basket- 

 work and covered with painted canvas or other waterproof 

 material, and light enough to be readily carried on the 

 shoulders. 



The assistance of dogs is sometimes found very useful in 



