296 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



are prevented by a peculiar contrivance from getting back 

 again. Escaping these dangers^ the Salmon are very 

 likely to be caught in the seins, or drag-nets^ with which 

 the open reaches of the river are incessantly swept by 

 means of boats called cobles. 



"Halves" and "Bag-nets" are used with the hand in 

 estuaries or tideways. The former consists of a funnel- 

 shaped net ending in a pocket or bag — the mouth of the 

 net being stretched upon an oblong frame about 3 yards 

 wide attached to a pole or handle. With the flowing of the 

 tidcj a number of halve-men range themselves in a close line 

 across the sands with the mouths of their nets facing the 

 current : as the stream rises^ it becomes too deep for the 

 man furthest out, who accordingly takes up his net and 

 places himself at the inside extremity of the line — and so 

 on in rotation. On. the halve-net being entered by a 

 Salmon, the mouth is immediately raised above water so 

 as to prevent the fish's retreat. Bag-nets are worked in a 

 somewhat similar manner, by being dropped from stages 

 or platforms projected into the tideway : in this case the 

 fishermen are generally concealed by hurdles. In Wales a 

 species of net is commonly used termed a " Trammel " or 

 " Horn-net," which is drawn down stream between two 

 Coracles — a small description of boat formed of basket- 

 work and covered with painted canvas or other waterproof 

 material, and light enough to be readily carried on the 

 shoulders. 



The assistance of dogs is sometimes found very useful in 



