TRAWLING. 27 



close to the ground ; the centre of the curve or 

 " bosom " being at a considerable distance behind the 

 beam and front of the net. The usual rule in English 

 trawls is, for the distance between the beam and the 

 centre of the curve to be about the same as the length 

 of the beam. In French trawls this distance is gene- 

 ally much less ; but in all cases there is a consider- 

 able space of ground over which the beam and back 

 of the net must pass, when the trawl is at work, before 

 the fish lying under them on the bottom are disturbed 

 by the lower part of the net. 



This curved lower margin of the mouth of the net 

 is fastened to and protected by the " ground-rope " 

 (Fig. 1, dT), which is made of an old hawser "rounded" 

 or covered with small rope to keep it from chafing, 

 and to make it heavier. Its purpose is to pro- 

 tect the edge of the net, and especially to keep it on 

 the ground so as to sweep the bottom and disturb the 

 fish, which, passing over it, then find their way into 

 the narrow closed extremity of the trawl. The ends 

 of the ground-rope are fastened on each side by a few 

 turns round the back of the trawl-iron, just above the 

 shoe, and the rope rests on the ground throughout its 

 entire curve. The fish have therefore no chance of 

 escape at either the sides or bosom of the net, and 

 their only outlet, when once the beam has passed over 

 them, is in front, so that they must dart forward in 

 the direction in which the net is moving, to enable 

 them to get clear of it. The ground-rope is made of 

 old material, so that it may break, in case of getting 

 foul of rocks or any chance obstruction which may be 



