DRIFT-NET FISHING. 55 



is further fastened at intervals of a few inches by very 

 short lines called " nossles," to the cork-rope, a small 

 double rope enclosing at various distances pieces of 

 cork as floats, to keep that part of the net uppermost. 

 The number of such nets used by each vessel depends 

 very much on her size, and ranges from eighty to one 

 hundred and thirty. They are fastened together end 

 to end, and, thus united, form what is called a " train, 

 fleet, or drift of nets," frequently extending to a length 

 of more than a mile and a quarter. The mesh in a 

 herring net is about an inch and a quarter square, equi- 

 valent to thirty or thirty-two meshes to the yard when 

 the net is new ; but after long use and frequent barking 

 or tarring, it becomes contracted to an inch, or even less. 

 Twine nets have been hitherto netted by hand, and 

 for convenience in the manufacture, are usually made 

 up of several narrow pieces called " deepings," which 

 are laced together one below the other, there being 

 three or four deepings in the depth of a net. Twine 

 nets are much heavier than those made of cotton, and 

 consequently involve more labour in working them. 

 There can be no doubt also that from the greater 

 stiffness of the meshes, the fish are not so readily caught 

 in them. On the other hand, it has been said that 

 more fish are lost from cotton nets, the sharpness of 

 the fine cotton-mesh cutting into the neck of the fish, 

 and tearing off the head when the fish hangs from the 

 mesh whilst the nets are being hauled on board. This 

 objection, however, cannot be a very serious one, or 

 cotton nets would not be so largely employed as is now 

 the case. 



