A TEAWLER. 221 



and 6 inches in circumference, and to this rope are attached the 

 diflFerent parts of the trawling apparatus — viz. the beam, the 

 trawl-heads, bag-net, ground-rope, and span or bridle. The 

 trawler is furnished with a capstan for hauling in this heavy- 

 machine. The beam, a spar of heavy elm wood, is 38 feet in 

 length, and 2 feet in circumference at the middle, and is made 

 to taper to the ends. Two trawl-heads (oval rings, 4 feet by 2|- 

 feet) are fixed to the beam, one at each end. The upper part of 

 the bag-net, which is about 100 feet long, is fastened to the 

 beam, while the lower part is attached to the ground-rope. The 

 ends of the ground-rope are fastened to the trawl-beds, and being 

 quite slack, the mouth of the bag-net forms a semicircle when 

 dragged over the ground. The whole apparatus is fastened to 

 the trawl-rope by means of the span or bridle, which is a rope 

 double the length of the beam, and of a thickness equal to the 

 trawl-rope. Each end of the span is fastened to the beam, and 

 to the loop thus formed the trawl-rope is attached. The ground- 

 rope is usually an old rope, much weaker than the trawl-rope, so 

 that, in the event of the net coming in contact with any obstruc- 

 tion in the water, the ground-rope may break and allow the rest 



"Each yawl, varying in tonnage from 28 to 45 tons, costs from 

 £600 to £650, and is divided into shares ; of its earnings 3s. 6d. in the 

 pound are paid to the owner or owners, 10s. are devoted to the cuiTent 

 expenses, and the remainder is divided among the men who find the bait. 

 When a new hoat is required, several persona — gentlemen speculators, 

 harbour-masters, etc., and boatmen — take certain shares of it, which vary 

 in amount from a half-quarter to a half of the cost ; application is then 

 made to a builder, sail-maker, anchor-maker, and other tradesmen ; and 

 the vessel, in due time, is paid for, equipped, and given over to the owners. 

 Bach lugger-yawl carries two masts, and is provided with three sets of saUs 

 to suit various states of weather. The foresail contains 200 or 250 yards, 

 the mizen 100, and the mizen-topsail 40 yards ; the lesser sizes being 

 severally of 100, 60, and 50 yards. The jib is very small. On the 

 average the yawl is of 40 tons, and measures 51 feet keel, or 55 feet over 

 all, and is of 17 or 18 feet beam ; drawing 6^'feet water aft, and 5 feet 

 forward. The amount of ballast varies from 20 to 30 tons. The yawl is 

 provided with 120 nets, each of which costs £30. Half of this number 

 are left on shore, and changed at the end of every 12 weeks. The crew is 

 composed of 7 men and 2 boys. For instance, the " Wear," commanded 

 by Colling, a first-rate seaman, carries two others, like himself part-owners, 

 4 men receiving, besides their food, £1, and 1 boy at 18s., and another at 

 lis. a week ; each fisherman, who is a net-owner, receives 24s. a week. 

 The expenses in wages and wear and tear are calculated at from £12 to £15 

 weekly. The herrings are valued at £2 per 1000 on an average. Some- 

 times 23,000 fish are caught in a single haul, occasionally as many as 

 60,000, but 40,000 are considered a good catch. To remunerate the crew, 



