ENGLISH FISHERIES. 109 



tell why the fish approach the land, as we find they do 

 every year. The idea that they come in for the pur- 

 pose of spawning has been quite disproved. In the 

 case of the pilchard, the great spawning season is in 

 the early part of the summer, before the shoals of fish 

 come near the coast. 



The pilchards visit the south coast of Ireland towards 

 the end of the summer, and then appear to direct their 

 course to the northern shore of Cornwall. They 

 usually first strike that coast a little to the eastward 

 of St. Ives, but they do not generally come in any 

 number close to the land till they are near that town, 

 and then, following the line of coast, they sometimes 

 enter and work round St. Ives Bay in enormous shoals, 

 and come within reach of the numerous seans kept 

 there for use in this particular fishery. 



The ground in this bay that is at all suitable for 

 seaning is of very limited extent, so that special regu- 

 lations are required to ensure every sean-boat having 

 its fair chance of fishing. Moreover, the fishery is 

 likely to be so valuable when the fish come within 

 reach, that it is desirable to run no risk of any con- 

 fusion from too many boats being at work at the same 

 time. A special Act of Parliament was accordingly 

 passed some years ago for the management of this 

 fishery, and is still strictly carried out, with the 

 approval of all the fishermen. Under this Act, the 

 seaning ground is divided into six " stems " or stations 

 by fixed marks on the shore ; and it is decided by lot, 

 in what rotation the various seans are to take their 

 turns to occupy the stations. The season lasts frojn 



