CHANGES IN TRAWLING VESSELS. 67 



thus no diminution of the mesh at the 'cod '-end. Moreover, 

 no improvement in the shape of a 'bonnet' or apparatus for 

 preventing the compression of the fishes has been found 

 serviceable notv^ithstanding various recent statements to the 

 contrary. The net has various rubbing-pieces of old net and 

 ' bass ' ropes, and the usual pockets internally. The ground- 

 rope is variable in composition. The majority have this part of 

 the trawl composed of rope only — an outer layer being wound 

 round a central rope. The ground-rope of the Montrose ships 

 is of Manilla soaked in tar, 8 inches in circumference, and made 

 up to 13 with others twisted round; and in the finest ships 

 elsewhere it is 124 feet long. In some, two pieces of chain are 

 inserted at the ends, thus making three divisions of the ground- 

 rope, viz., a central, entirely of rope, and two lateral, with a 

 centre of 18 feet of chain, each being tied to the other with 

 spun-yarn. Ground-ropes with chain throughout are not now 

 used. In certain ships the ground-rope has a centre of wire- 

 rope with a series of wooden rollers, with occasionally, here and 

 there, a pair of metal rollers (12 in all — Gunn's patent). The 

 rope is also in three divisions, and costs about £6. 10^., or 30^. 

 more than the ordinary form composed only of Manilla ropes. 

 This arrangement is thought at Aberdeen to give an increased 

 catch of fishes — sometimes about 5 or 6 baskets more than by 

 the ordinary ground-rope. In some ships, again, the port- and 

 starboard-trawls have each a different ground-rope ; in the one 

 the rope is all of one piece, whereas in the other three breaks 

 occur, viz., two of wire and a third of chain. In one ship, the 

 ground-rope had only 8 feet of chain at each end, while the 

 centre had rope. All, however, do not think that the rollers 

 are so satisfactory as a ground-rope with pieces of lead in the 

 centre. Moreover, one of the features which contrasts strongly 

 with the condition in 1884 is the fact that the newest ships, 

 with the exception of the Montrose vessels, now carry two 

 trawls — a starboard- and port-trawl — complete in all respects. 

 This arrangement has been in force for at least four or five 

 years, and probably was introduced from England. At Aber- 

 deen, however, the second trawl is, as a rule, used as a reserve- 

 apparatus, and is not put into requisition until the first has 



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