10 



FISHERIES 



tni of tlie train of nets are entirely bhck. The only part 

 of the gear in cmmexioii with the long string of nets is 

 the warp, a stout rope to which each net is fastened by two 

 smftller ropes called "seizings," and lung enough to allow 

 the warp to hang down near the foot of the nets. This 

 warp has a twofold purpose : it prevents the loss of the 

 nets if by any chance a vessel should pass through and cut 

 tlmni when near the surface, an accident not unlikely to 

 b.ippen, as the nets are only used at night and extend a 

 cmi-iderable distance, often in the course of trading 

 Vessels going up and down the coast ; and it is by means 

 of I he warp the nets are hauled in, the strain being tlnis 

 brought evenly, by means of the seizings, on each separate 

 net. The Yarmouth drift boats are the largest used fiT 

 this kind of fishing on any part of our coasts. They are fine 

 decked vessels of about 36 tons, the largest being upwanK 

 of 52 feet on the ketl, with about 17 feet beam and 7 feet 

 depth of lioli'u The universal rig has long been that of a 

 lugger, with two masts only, and they carry a jib, a large 

 dijjping forj-lug, aud a nvlzen with a topsail. The mizen- 

 mast is always kept s'unding, but the fore-mast is made to 

 lower backwards when fishing is going on. so as to enable 

 the vessel to ride easier, as at that time she is head to 

 wind and without any sail that can steady her. The mast 

 is not lowered on to the deck, however, but, as is the 

 practice with all large drift-boats, the head is supported 

 ou a wooden crutch 10 or 12 feet high, in the Yar- 

 mouth vessels called a " mitch board." In this manner 

 the mast lies very snug, and does not interfere with the 

 room on deck. The interior of the vessel is fitted up with 

 separate spaces for the nets, warp, fish, and salt, of which 

 last a quantity is always taken to sprinkle the fish with 

 bef' they are stowed away. These boats carry as many 

 as 1 .n or twelve men, as the labour of hauling in the nets 

 is considerable ; but more than half the crew are landsmen 

 who are mainly employed at the capstan by which the warp 

 and nets are got in. Strength, and not nautical know- 

 ledge, is required for this work ; and all the important part 

 of tlie fishing — the deciding where to work and at what 

 depth to place the nets^s the business of the experienced 

 fisliennen. 



Drift-net fishing is with rare exceptions only carried 

 on at night. The time for commencing is just before 

 sunset, and the nets are then got into the water by tlie 

 time it is dark. When the vessel has arrived at what — 

 from cei-tain indications, such as numerous seabirds or 

 pjssibly fish playing at the surface, or even without any 

 special signs to guide the fishermen — may be thought a 

 likely place for fish, for there is a great deal of siieculation 

 in the matter, the vessel is sailed slowly before the wind, 

 and if possible across the tide ; then the net is shot or 

 thrown out over the vessel's quarter, the men being distri- 

 buted at regular stations, some hauling up the net from 

 below, othera throwing it over and taking care that it falls 

 so that the foot is clear of tlie corked back ; others, again, 

 looking after the warp which has to be paid out at the 

 same time, and seeing that the seizings are made fast to it 

 in their proper places. When it is all overboard, and 

 about 15 or 20 fathoms of extra warp, called the "swing- 

 rope," given out, the vessel is brought round head to wiiil 

 by the warp being carried to the bow ; the sails are then 

 taken in, the mast lowered, a small mizen set to keep the 

 vessel with her head to the wind, and the regulation lights 

 are hoisted to show that she is fishing. A few of the 

 hands remain on deck to keep a look nut, and the vessel 

 and nets are left to drift wherever the wind and tide may 

 take them. It is very rarely that there is an absolute calm 

 at sea; and if there is the faintest breath of air stirring, 

 the fishing boat will of course feel it more than the buoys 

 ■upportiag the nets; she wiU couse^ueutly drift faster, and 



being nt the lee end of the train, will have a constant pull 

 upon them, and so keep tlietn extended almoat in a straight 

 lino, so that every portion of the nets hangs clear and free 

 from folds. If there is a great deal of wind more swing- 

 rope is allowed, so that the nets may not be dragged 

 through the water or any undue strain be thrown on the 

 warp, as the more warp there is out the gre, ter spring 

 there is in it, and the less danger of its breil .ng. The 

 first net in the train is called the "look-on net, and 

 frequently after an hour or so, that one is hauled in to see 

 if any fish have been taken, and if so, in what part of the 

 net. If it has been allowed to sink too low, that will be 

 shown by the fish being only in the upper part of the net, 

 CT vice versa. Such an examination of one of the nets 

 (called in Scotland by the name of "preeing") also some- 

 times discloses the fact that dog-fish are unpleasantly 

 abundant, and this makes it desirable to haul in the nets 

 very soon, as these pests of the fisherman do a great deal 

 of mischief to both tl.ti fish and the nets if they are allowed 

 to remain long in the water. The operation of hauling in 

 the nets is carried on in the same systematic manner as in 

 the case of shooting them. The laborious part of the work 

 is now performed by the " capstan-men," whose duty it is 

 to heave in the warp, the regular fishermen looking after 

 the net as it comas on board, and shaking out the fisli, 

 which is at once sprinkled with salt aud stowed away in 

 the fish room. 



After a day or two, depemlhig on tlie success or failure of the 

 fisliinij, tlie vessel ivtunis to l^oit ; and tlif jii inral iinutico since 

 i!ii' ii|ieiiiii|' of the exti-i sive cnveied li^li i. ;ukft by the side of the 

 Yair.outh haven is for llie luggers to go into the river and deliver 

 their cargoes direct into the iniUKit. It is at times, honever, n 

 dillicult matter to enter the liuveti, uiid then the old ]>raetiee of 

 landiirg the Ksh on thi^ beach in fiout of the town is ri'surted to. 

 The holding is effected by means of laifie " ferry-boats," which go 

 otf loaded with baskets of a jiciiiliar shaiic, called "swills," each 

 one cajiable of hoMing 500 hei lings, and j^nt them on board the 

 lugger which is anchored at a short distance from the shore. The 

 fish are then counud ranidly into the baskets, Hhich are placed, 

 when full, in the ferry-lioat, and as soon tia she is loaded she 

 returns and is laid broadside on to the beach. A set of strong, 

 active fellows, known as "beachmen," at once go to work, and two 

 men taking each baske* between them in their arms, soon carry up 

 the fish to the uarts waiting to take them either to the market or 

 direct to the curing houses. The situation of the market by the 

 side of the haven is very convenient; aud, if requirt 1, »^ire room 

 can be easily provided by adding some of the vacant land initae- 

 diately adjoining it, and with the same river frontage. The market 

 w.'is completed only in 1867, and although the Yarmonth fishery 

 has been carried on continuously for many centuries, it is only since 

 the opening of the new market that an accurate account has been 

 kept of the quantity of herrings landed there. 



The following statement shows the number of lasts of fish 

 received at the market during each of the ten years 1868-77, and 

 as a "last" of herrings contains 13,200 fish, some idea will be 

 gained of the produce of the Yarmouth iisliery, without taking into 

 consideration what is landed elsewhere by Ysrmouth boats : 



The following is the mode of counting herrings on al.uost all 

 parts of the east coast of Knjjland : — 



4 herrings — 1 warp. ^■ 



S3 warps - 1 hundred - 132 fish 



10 hundreds — 1 thousaud — 1,320 „ 



10 thousand* - 1 hut - 13,200 „ 



Only SO warps or 120 fish, however, go to a "hundred" of 

 mackerel. 



It will be observed that considerable fluctuations have taken 

 place in the produce of the Vanihii, " licty duiiiig the last ten 

 years ; and there is no doulit that th , nave been almost entiMlj 

 caused by variationa of weather doiingUw bwring i 



