MARINE BIOLOGICAL .STATION AT TORT ERIK. 65 



success. The lines are weighted, and " trawled " behind 

 sailing or rowing boats. 



The Herring fishery is pursued by a small number of 

 boats from May to October. The "drift" nets used are, 

 when barked and ready for use, about 35 fathoms long and 

 from G to 8 fathoms wide or deep. From 18 to 20 nets, 

 fastened together end to end, are used by each boat. They 

 are shot between sunset and sunrise, one edge being kept 

 about three fathoms below the surface by means of floats, 

 while the other is weighted with small ropes, called 

 " underbacks. ; ' When shot the nets and boat are allowed 

 to drift with the tide. 



What is locally called trawl-net fishing is engaged 

 in at the latter end of September and October. The trawl 

 net is 50 fathoms long and o fathoms wide. The size of 

 the mesh varies, and in at least one net causes the destruc- 

 tion of numbers of immature fish. A rope about 100 

 fathoms long is attached to either end of the net, which is 

 shot from a boat rowed close to the shore ; the rope at one 

 end is left on the beach, the one at the other is landed 

 by the men in the boat, when the whole length of the net 

 has been shot. The two ends are now hauled ashore, the 

 two parties of men closing upon each other in order to 

 drive the fish enclosed towards the centre of the net. The 

 fish caught in this way are coal-fish, plaice, mullet, and 

 occasionally salmon. The net is invariably used after 

 dark, and at early flood tide. 



Three or four trammel nets, like those used in the 

 estuary of the Dee, are used in the bay and its immediate 

 neighbourhood during the summer months, but the 

 number of fish caught by their means, such as plaice, 

 small cod and gurnard, is not large. 



Mr. Watter son's record of the long line fishing during 

 last winter is as follows : — 



