

THE KETTLE NET. 99 



length of the barrier depends on what slope there is on 

 the ground, or, in other words, on the distance between 

 high-water and low-water marks. As these nets are 

 only used where the tide goes out a long way, the bar- 

 riers range from about 200 to 500 or 600 yards. At 

 high water, the pound and a great part of the barrier 

 are covered by the water, or nearly so, and the mackerel, 

 in attempting to pass along near the shore, are stopped 

 by the barrier ; they cannot get round it at the shore 

 end, and they naturally try in the other direction, and 

 then, by following the line of the barrier outwards, they 

 ultimately pass into the large enclosure of the pound. 

 Once having entered, they are not likely again very 

 soon to find the narrow opening ; and, as the tide falls, 

 the fish naturally keep in the deepest part of the water, 

 until, as it approaches the time of low tide, their escape 

 is completely cut off by the greater part of the pound 

 becoming dry. The fishermen have then no trouble in 

 taking out the fish. A horse and cart are driven into 

 the pound, and the fish are either dipped up with 

 baskets, and put into the cart, or, if much of the 

 ground within the enclosure be still covered with 

 water, a small sean is shot round the fish, and they 

 are drawn on shore. I have hitherto spoken of the 

 pound having been placed somewhere about low-water 

 mark at neap tide ; but it will be remembered that the 

 spring tides go out very much farther, and therefore a 

 larger extent of surface may be utilized for two or 

 three days every fortnight. In order to make the most 

 of this greater recess of tide, it was the practice to put 

 up another kettle net with a shorter barrier, and a 



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