ENGLISH FISHERIES. 121 



the extreme length of the trawling ground, it may be 

 said to extend from Portland to the Start. But less 

 than half that distance really comprises the ordinary 

 fishing ground. If the effects of trawling were really 

 so exhaustive as has been said, the Brixham fishery 

 should have come to an end at least fifty years ago ; 

 but there is no appearance of such becoming the case 

 even now, although within that period the trawlers 

 have been nearly quadrupled in number, and more than 

 doubled in size. The trawl fishery at Brixham was 

 never so prosperous or so profitable as at the present 

 day. Everyone there is more or less interested in the 

 fishing ; the actual condition of the fishery is generally 

 understood, and the savings of the fishermen and of 

 many of their friends are invested in it year after year. 

 The cost of new trawl-smacks has greatly increased 

 within the last ten years ; for, not only are the new 

 ones larger than formerly, but all the materials used 

 in their construction are more expensive, so that the 

 first outlay on a good vessel has risen from 800Z. or 

 900Z. to very nearly 1200Z. 



The trawlers keep very steadily at their work. 

 Starting early on Monday morning, they return with 

 their catch of fish perhaps in the afternoon, but more 

 commonly on Tuesday morning. The vessel picks up 

 her moorings, but does not lower all her sails, and 

 without any delay the fish is landed ; the men then at 

 once return to the vessel, and she goes off to her work 

 till the next morning; and this system continues till 

 Friday evening or Saturday morning, when the whole 

 fleet returns home, and stays in, till Monday comes 



