2 APPARATUS. 



bottom of the net near the ground. The sean is 

 generally used to surround large shoals of fish 

 when they approach the shore; mackerel, her- 

 rings, pilchards, mullet, and some other kinds of 

 fish, are taken in this way, and in many instances 

 return very large sums to the fishermen. The 

 sean, with the necessary ropes attached, often 

 reaches a mile in circumference from one end of 

 the rope to the other, thus enclosing and taking 

 all the fish within that space, and occupying 

 several hours in shooting and hauling in. Often 

 smaller nets are used, with a large bunt or bag 

 in them, to remove the fish from the sean, as 

 when a large catch is made they do not at once 

 draw the net on shore, but moor it and dip out 

 the take with the auxiliary net, which is usually 

 one hundred fathoms in length. This net is 

 called the " tuck sean," and the other the " top 

 sean ;" these nets are always kept ready for use 

 at a moment's notice, as at all seasons some kind 

 or other of fish in immense shoals may visit the 

 coast and call the nets into use. 



