Crustacea of the Channel Islands. 360 



to tlio handle, so that tlie fisher's breast bears ou It [see 

 figure], Tl)e nets are from 3 feet to 4 feet inches across 

 the wooden (asli) blade which forms tiie base. The best 



Tiets are of horsehair cloth, as used for sieves, but ordinary 

 linen cheese-cloth is mostly used. At about 18 inches from 

 the pocket of the net a cane ring with netting of about three 

 quarters of an inch mesh is inseited across it, so as to prevent 

 tiie entrance of larger objects (crabs, shrimps, &c.) among 

 the Mysids. 



" The men usually wade waist-deep, pushing the net befoie 

 them for ten minutes or so, when they untie the pocket end 

 and empty their catch into their basket. 



"When the 'Cherve' is brought home it is mixed with 

 a sufficient quantity of coarse salt to preserve it, and then it 

 is pressed into pans. It forms a pink-coloured compost. 

 This is sold to mullet-anglers at about four shillings a gallon, 

 though many anglers obtain a licence and take their own 

 supply. 



"The favourite places for mullet are not far from the 

 shore, and high water is the best time for the sport. Tiie 

 angler takes a spoonful of ' Cherv^ ' from his tin, uses it as a 

 ground-bait, and waits awhile. If no mullet turn up in ten 

 or twenty minutes, he tries another spot or g >es home ; but 

 almost invariably a few are soon attracted, to be followed by 

 a crowd. 'J'he ' Cherve ' tints the water pinkish for some 

 yards around, and lias a strong and not pleasant smell, like 

 that of boiled prawn or lobster gone bail. 



