-SEA FISH; 



main line or drift rope, thus allowing the net to hang 

 perpendicularly in the water, about twenty feet below 

 the lower ends of the short lines. Buoys are used to 

 keep up the drift rope, which is allowed to run out as 

 the boat proceeds on its way, carrying the net with it, 

 when another and another net is attached in succes- 

 sion, until sometimes a mile or a mile and a half of 

 nets are out. The boat is then allowed to ride at the 

 end, as if at anchor, keeping, by the drag thus estab- 

 lished, all the nets end on and in a line. Night is the 

 time chosen for this kind of fishing, as the fish, not ap- 

 pearing to perceive the snare, as they perhaps would by 

 day, strike into the meshes, where they are entangled 

 by their heads and pectoral fins, and are thus taken 

 at times in incredible numbers. Sometimes the nets 

 are taken up once during the night to be overhauled 

 and re-shot, and at others are allowed to remain down 

 the whole night. They are wound in by the use of 

 a capstan, mounted in the boat for the purpose, round 

 which the drift rope is brought. In some localities 

 the herring aifords good sport to the rod-and-line 

 fisherman, taking a bright gaudy fly with the greatest 

 eagerness. In some of the sea lochs and estuaries 

 on the coast of Scotland, great quantities are often 

 taken with the fly. They may be fished for from the 

 bank with an ordinary fly rod and gut casting line, 

 making use of one fly, which should be tied on a 6 or 

 7 hook, Kirby Trout pattern ; body, scarlet chenille 

 or German wool ; wings, a mixture of scarlet and 



