148 
ANIMAL LIFE ON THE 
many fathoms below, the presence of a body of fish, or the 
track of a single wanderer from the shoal. 
We are now favoured by these circumstances, and our 
active crews, eager for the work, are keeping a sharp out- 
look for this familiar sign of the presence of the fish. 
Sometimes, resting at a goodly depth, the shoal will not be 
disturbed by the splashing of the oars; but the trawlers 
have learned that the fish have acute ears, and can hear from 
the surface, even away down there, and for the purpose of 
making them start a bit, the men keep knocking on the stem 
of the boat, or on the anchor, producing a sharp, penetrating 
sound, which invariably has the desired effect. Resorting 
to these tactics on this occasion, the eff'orts of our crews are 
at last successful in discovering an eye of fish fully half a 
mile from shore. All hands are now in active motion 
The anchor of one boat is quickly dropped to the bottom, 
and the other, with the net on board, strikes out for the 
deep, the anchored boat the while paying out their net- 
connected rope. When the distance required is reached, the 
net is shot in a circle, and when this is accomplished the 
boat returns with the other rope, and both crews at once 
begin to haul shoreward. Gradually the tedious draught 
is brought near, and we soon see by the agitation of the fish 
in the luminous waters, that within the compass of the net 
a vast shoal is confined. To make the capture complete? 
both ends of the net are brought close together, and the 
whole body dragged as far shoreward as possible. This is 
generally the plan adopted with a heavy "take;" for when 
the net rests upon the ground of the shore, it prevents the 
weight of the fish in the great bag from rending it asunder, 
thereby causing the loss of tons of fish which not infre- 
quently occurs. To secure the fish, large baskets are used, 
which are let down into the water amongst th^m, then lifted 
