602 THE OCEAN .WORLD. 
round the shoal, the two extremities are made fast, and the fish are 
imprisoned within an oblong barrier of netting. The art is how to let 
as few of the pilchards escape as possible while the process is being 
completed. Whenever the ‘ huer’ observes that they are startled, and 
separating at any particular point, he waves his bush, and thither the 
boat is steered, and there the net is shot at once; the fish are thus 
headed and thwarted in every direction with extraordinary address 
and skill. This labour completed, the silence of intense expectation 
that has hitherto prevailed is broken, there is a shout of joy on all 
sides—the shoal is secured. 
“The ‘seine’ is now regarded as a great reservoir of fish. It may 
remain in the water a week or more; to secure it against being ° 
moved from its position, in case a gale should come on, it is warped 
by two or three ropes to points of land in the cliff, and is at the same 
time contracted in circuit by its opposite ends being brought together 
and passed lightly over its breadth for several feet. While these 
operations are being performed, another boat, another set of men, and 
another net, are approaching the scene of action. 
“The new net is called the ‘tuck ;’ it is smaller than the ‘seine, 
inside which it is to be let down, for the purpose of bringing the fish 
close to the surface. The men who manage this net are called 
‘regular sewers.’ The boat is first of all rowed inside the seine-net, 
and laid close to the seine-boat, which remains stationary outside. 
To its bows one rope at the end of the tuck-net is fastened. The 
tuck-boat now slowly makes the inner circle of the seine, the smaller 
net being dropped overboard, and attached to the seine at intervals 
as she goes. To prevent the fish from getting between the two nets 
during the operation, they are frightened into the middle of the 
enclosure by beating the water with oars, and stones fastened to ropes, 
When the ‘tuck’ has at length travelled round the whole circle of 
the ‘seine,’ and is securely fastened to the seine-boat at the end as it 
was at the beginning, everything is prepared for the great event of 
the day—hauling the fish to the surface. 
“Now all is excitement on sea and shore; every little boat in 
the place puts off, crammed with idle spectators; boys shout, dogs 
bark, and the shrill voices of the former are joined by the deep voices 
of the ‘seiners.’ .There they stand, six or eight stalwart, sun-burnt 
fellows, ranged in a row in the seine-boat, hauling with all their 
might at the ‘ tuck ’-net, and roaring out the nautical ‘Yo, heave ho!’ 
in chorus. Higher and higher rises the net; louder and louder 
shout the boys and the idlers; the ‘huer,’ so calm and collected 
hitherto, loses his selfpossession, and waves his cap triumphantly. 
