SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 113 
follow, and finally the net is cleared away. As the shrimp- 
net part fills with living fish it rises to the surface. A close 
watch is kept on the rising net, and as soon as it is full the 
lower beam is hauled up against the top one. If the critical 
point is missed and the fish allowed to die the net sinks to the 
bottom. It may then be impossible to close the entrance, 
and the weight of the fish, combined with the force of the 
current, is so great that the net may burst, be torn out of 
_ the beams, or the whole gear broken away from the anchor 
drag chain. When such accidents happen most of the catch 
is generally lost. If the fishermen are successful in closing 
the opening, they heave up the chain between the boat and 
the swivel to get hold of the bridles so that the beams may 
be drawn alongside. The tail-end is then brought to the side 
of the boat with the “ sweep-rope ” 
The “bowler” is used when the fish are to be packed into 
boxes or bags aboard the boat. The part enclosed by the 
“bowler” contains enough fish to fill two half-hundredweight 
boxes. The “bowler” is slackened and the space allowed 
to fill with fish from the upper part of the tail-end. It is then 
tightened, the end unlaced and the fish run into the boxes. 
This operation is repeated again and again until the whole 
of the catch is dealt with. When the entire catch has been 
removed, the tail-end is laced up and slackened away, the 
beams and bridles dropped to the bottom, and the anchor- 
chain paid out. The fishing is practically continuous so long 
as the tide and other conditions remain favourable. The 
accumulated catch is sent ashore from time to time in a small 
boat. 
The winter sprat fishery generally begins in October, 
and may last till the beginning of March. Considerable 
quantities are captured in the baulks in the estuary of the 
Lune and at the west end of Morecambe, occasionally even 
in September. The invasion apparently sets in from the south 
and the catch removed. 
