32 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



their masters that they should go to "shot-fare" and 

 " herring-fare." 



The North Sea fishery had been at that time much 

 followed by the inhabitants of Thanet, but want of 

 success had greatly discouraged them in recent years, 

 and many of the men and boys had left the work. The 

 tackle used in the North Sea fishing by the people of 

 Thanet consisted of a peck, or heading knife, a splitting 

 knife, a gutting knife, and a contrivance carrying two 

 hooks with which very good results seem to have been 

 secured. This was a semicircular bar of iron, in the 

 middle of which was a lead to poise it through a hole, in 

 the top of the bar there went an iron ring, to which was 

 fixed a line of so many fathoms as the depth of water 

 needed. At each end of the bar was a hole with a 

 ring in it, to which was fixed a piece of line about ten 

 inches long. This was called the "snood," and to it 

 was fastened the hook, with a piece of lead on the top 

 of it resembling a fish, and called the " fish." It was 

 said that sometimes cod were enticed to swallow the 

 hook when it was unbaited. 



The "shot-fare" and the "herring-fare" gave em- 

 ployment to the "poor people on shore" who were 

 busied in spinning, twisting, and knitting the nets. The 

 prices paid were small enough. They were 



Spinning by the pound . y ... ' 2d. 



Twisting * . . . . , id. 

 Knitting a shot-net, which is but two 



deepings by the awlne . .. . fd. 

 Knitting a herring-net of three deepings 



by the awlne . , . . id. 



