THE TRAWL. 239 



irons, and a turn or two being taken, they are lashed to the 

 iron near the beam sockets. 



Two swivel eyes are attached to the front of the irons, into 

 which the spans or bridle are spliced, which being connected 

 with a strong rope, known as the rode or warp, the whole 

 apparatus is then complete. 



A reference to the accompanying cuts will render the above 

 description easily intelligible. 



Trawls are towed by craft of various sizes, from boats of 

 twenty feet in length to vessels of sixty tons, the gear being of 

 proportionate weight and dimensions. 



The length of trawl-beam for a twenty-foot boat will be 

 twelve to fourteen feet, that for a vessel of fifty or sixty tons, 

 thirty- six to thirty-eight feet. 



The larger craft are very powerful vessels, easily handled 

 and excellent sea-boats, and remain out for weeks at a time, 

 sending their fish to market by the finest and fastest cutters 

 which skill and experience can combine to construct for the 

 purpose. 



These are termed 'Carriers,' and on their outward trip take 

 provisions and water for the ' trawling fleet,' with many tons of 

 ice in which to pack the fish on their return. Steamers are now 

 also used as ' Carriers.' A good deal of trawling is now done 

 in steam vessels specially built for the purpose, and many tugs 

 are registered as fishing vessels also, and carry a large trawl, 

 which they use to fill up their time whilst waiting for employ- 

 ment in towing sailing-vessels. 



Cutters are more effective as trawlers than any other rig, the 

 mainsail giving them great power of towage ; all trawling- craft 

 fishing near the shore deliver their fish daily, if possible. 



In the North of England, instead of the ugly, unhandy 

 beam, they have for small trawls, say up to the size of twenty- 

 five feet beams, substituted ij-inch galvanised wrought-iron 

 pipes, which are always clean, and take up very little room on 

 deck. 



Size of Mesh. The size of the mesh of trawl-nets must be 

 not less than if inch from knot to knot, and any other net 

 added to a trawl must have meshes of 2 inches from knot 



