60 BRITISH INDUSTRIES. 



upon the nets and keeps them comparatively straight. 

 In Loch Fyne and other large inlets of the sea, where, 

 in the summer nights, the surrounding hills keep off 

 any little air of wind there may be stirring in the 

 neighbourhood, and where the boats are small and 

 fishing in large numbers close together, great con- 

 fusion sometimes occurs from the nets of different 

 boats becoming entangled ; but such a thing rarely 

 happens at sea, where there is more room, and the 

 faintest air is felt by the fishing boat. When there is 

 a great deal of wind, more swing-rope is allowed, and 

 the vessel sometimes rides to the nets with as much as 

 100 fathoms of clear warp out, the "spring" of the 

 warp under such circumstances easing the strain on 

 the nets. 



Whilst the nets are in the water, the warp is occa- 

 sionally hauled in till the first net is reached ; this is 

 called the " look-on " net, and by examining it, some 

 idea may generally be formed of whether many her- 

 rings are about, or the dogfish are numerous. The 

 latter are at times very mischievous, and do a great 

 deal of damage to both the fish and the nets if they 

 are left long in the water. 



I now come to hauling in the nets ; this operation 

 is performed in the same systematic manner as I 

 spoke of just now in connection with shooting the nets, 

 the men being told off to their regular stations, and 

 each having his appointed duty. I need only men- 

 tion, however, that the " capstan-men " are now im- 

 portant persons, for the capstan is the means by which 

 the warp and nets are got on board. As soon as the 



