TRAWLING. 19 



It should be remembered that the boats in the first 

 class range from 15 to over 80 tons, and those in the 

 second and third classes together include everything 

 under 15 tons down to the smallest boat, each of these 

 two classes containing fishing boats of both large and 

 small size, although the third class consists mainly of 

 the smallest kinds used for harbour fishing. 



I now propose to give some account of the several 

 methods of fishing commonly carried on in our seas. 

 To enable the modes of working to be fairly under- 

 stood, it will be necessary to enter somewhat into 

 details ; but I shall endeavour to avoid technicalities 

 as much as possible, so as to make my descriptions 

 and explanations reasonably intelligible. 



The principal methods of fishing are those by trawl- 

 nets, drift-nets, line and sean-nets. 





TEAWLING. 



THERE is no method of fishing which is of greater 

 importance in relation to the supply of fish to our 

 markets than trawling ; for it is not only the means of 

 providing us with the essentially " prime " fish, such 

 as turbot, brill, and soles, but also with immense 

 numbers of plaice and haddock, besides other kinds 

 of fish which are in great demand by the poorer 

 classes of this country. It is also worthy of notice 

 that trawling is carried on throughout the year ; and, 



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