38 BRITISH IND USTRIES. 



skate or ray are obtained by the same means ; and 

 notwithstanding the peculiar habits of all these fish, 

 there is very little chance of their escaping, when once 

 the trawl-beam has passed over them. The ground 

 which flat fish frequent is that with a smooth surface, 

 and it will be evident that it is only on such ground 

 the trawl can be effectively worked. The trawl is 

 always towed with the tide, but a little faster than it 

 is running ; were it otherwise, the net, being lighter 

 than the beam, weighted as it is with the irons, would 

 be liable to be drifted forwards and prevent the 

 entrance of the fish. The resistance of the water 

 caused by the slight excess of speed in the trawl over 

 the tide, varying according to circumstances, from half 

 a knot to about a knot and a half in the hour, keeps 

 the net expanded and in a proper position on the 

 bottom. The ground-rope then does its duty. Its 

 biting action or close pressure on the ground over 

 which it is towed, is of the greatest importance when 

 soles, turbot, or other flat fish are worked for, as these 

 fish when disturbed do not rise from the ground, as is 

 the habit with "round fish," such as whiting, haddock, 

 gurnards, &c., but seek safety in the sand. When, 

 therefore, as the trawl is slowly towed along, the 

 ground-rope disturbs these flat fish, their first impulse 

 is to dart forwards and again bury themselves ; but the 

 rope is steadily pressing on as the trawl advances, and 

 they are again disturbed. This almost certainly ends 

 in the fish, sooner or later, passing over the ground- 

 rope and entering the net ; they cannot escape upwards, 

 because the back of the net is above them, and if they 



