SHOOTING THE TRAWL 299 



The length of warp required varies with the depth. 

 The following table will give some indication of what 

 is required : 



In soundings up to 50 fathoms — 3 times the depth, 

 of 50-200 ,, — 1\ 

 of 200-500 ,, — 2 ,, 



of over 500 ,, — 500 fathoms in excess 

 of the depth. 



Beam trawls may be towed from the warping chock 

 aft, from a trawl post, or from a wide-mouthed snatch- 

 block * slung from a derrick or davit. 



Shooting over the stern is much the most convenient, 

 but the method can only be used with very small 

 patterns. As a general rule, it will be found best to 

 shoot and haul from the port side as far aft as possible. 

 The following is an outline of the procedure : 



The trawl is laid on deck with the heels of the irons 

 close to the rail, and with the net brought back over 

 the beam. The spans are coiled down on deck, and 

 the warp, after it has been passed through the trawl 

 port or other fairlead, is shackled to them. It is best 

 to use a separate shackle for each span. When these 

 preparations are complete, way may be got on the 

 ship, and the trawl shot with helm hard a-starboard. 

 The frame is lifted to the rail by hand or by tackle. 

 The cod end is put over the side first, followed by the 

 heads and beam, the trawl drifting away on the port 

 quarter as the spans uncoil. It is best to square the 

 trawl by checking the after span, while the other is 

 let run freely. This should be done while the net is 

 still at the surface and can be seen. When the whole 

 length of the spans has disappeared, the warp may be 



* A snatch-block for this purpose must be wide enough to 

 allow the passage of the shackles connecting the warp and 

 spans, and should have a deep V-shaped groove. 



