238 THE TRAWL. 



The small end of the trawl is termed the bunt or cod, and 

 has a draw-string through the lower meshes, by which the bunt 

 is carefully closed before the net is shot or thrown overboard. 



Fig. 72 shows the beam and trawl irons, or heads ; the 

 beam is used to keep the mouth of the trawl open, and is sup- 

 ported by the irons, which are provided with square sockets to 



FIG. 72. Trawl, with Beam and Irons. 



receive the ends, and are made very stout on the lower part, 

 both to give additional weight to sink the whole and to kgep 

 the ground-rope close to the bottom, that the fish may not 

 escape underneath, which flat fish generally endeavour to do by 

 flapping their side fins and covering themselves with sand or 

 ooze when in danger or difficulty. 



Where the ground is very soft the rope scrapes them out of 

 it frequently, yet many escape by darting away in front, 

 particularly when the wind is light. 



In the illustration of ' the trawl, with beam and irons,' the 

 beam sockets are represented inside the iron, but they are just 

 as often placed on the top, there being no rule for these minor 

 arrangements. 



Hake are not commonly taken unless during a strong 

 breeze, that is to say, sufficient wind to tow the trawl at a 

 good rate. 



The ends of the ground-rope pass through the eyes of the 



