SOME BRITISH SEA FISHES AND FISHING 237 



bladders, corks, or inflated dogskins,' and at each 

 point where the pieces are joined together is a 

 small keg. The lower edge is weighted, generally 

 with stones, to keep the great wall of meshes 

 (from I inch to i^ inches in size) perpendicular 

 in the water. The herrings come against this 

 obstacle, and are caught by the head, which they 

 cannot withdraw, the gills acting like barbs. 



The skipper went on to tell how that, even if 

 very successful, the crews of the Lowestoft fishing- 

 boats seldom have much money to draw at the end 

 of the season, as they lay in such an extraordinary 

 quantity of provisions that their cost wipes out the 

 profits. 



By this time we were far from the land ; the 

 nets had been carefully overhauled and got ready 

 for instant use, and a sharp look-out was kept 

 for any indication of fish being about. There 

 was, however, no oily gleam in the water, and 

 there were no sea-birds. However, we sailed 

 away, outstripping the others, and the afternoon 

 ripened into evening. 



Of course, the great difficulty in herring fishery 

 is to know where the fish are. There may be 



' In the Shetlands dogs are very scarce, as they are 

 invariably stolen, knocked on the head, and skinned for 

 this purpose. 



