

TRAWLING. 37 



conditions on which this regulation depends is the wind, 

 for if there be very little breeze to drive the vessel 

 along, the friction of the net and irons on the bottom 

 may be sufficient to stop her way almost entirely. In 

 such a case, very little extra warp is required, so that 

 the lifting power may be increased, and the friction 

 over the bottom lessened. But if there be a great deal 

 of wind, which will drive the vessel along even with 

 very little sail, and especially if, as in such a case is 

 likely to occur, there is a good deal of sea, and the 

 strain on the warp becomes irregular and jerking, then 

 more warp is allowed to counteract the tendency that 

 there is to lift the net off the ground. The faster the 

 vessel sails, the more likely the net is to leave the 

 ground ; and as the trawl works most effectively when 

 just touching the bottom, the master of the vessel has 

 to calculate in a very rough way all the conditions re- 

 quired for making the net work properly. This, as I 

 have before said, is a matter of experience, and the 

 ready way in which these rough fishermen make their 

 calculations, often, I will venture to say, without 

 being able to explain their reasons, is shown by the 

 successful manner in which they commonly fish in all 

 kinds of weather. 



I may now say a few words about the action of 

 the beam-trawl when at work. This net is especially 

 constructed for catching what are called ground-fish, 

 those which, as a rule, keep at the bottom, and natu- 

 rally hide under the sand or mud. With rare excep- 

 tions, all the soles, turbot, brill, and plaice brought to 

 market are caught by the trawl ; the various kinds of 



