BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 341 
closed above by the back, and at the sides by the wings, so that there 
is no possible escape in any direction above ground, but at the entrance 
under the beam. The trawl is moreover moving forwards all the time, 
and as flat-fish when disturbed only swim a short distance before they 
again try to hide themselves, it almost amounts to a certainty that, if 
they do not bury themselves deeply, they will sooner or later pass over 
the ground-rope into the net. In the case of such round-fish as keep 
close to the bottom— haddocks, for example — the result is very much 
the same, for when they are disturbed by the ground-rope they nat- 
urally rise and pass the slight obstacle without knowing it; if, on the 
contrary, they dart towards the mouth of the net, they may escape in 
that direction ; but they also will probably have some distance to go 
before they can get clear, and the upper part or back of the net is an 
effectual barrier to their escape upwards.” 1 
It is generally found desirable, if there is sufficient wind, to tow a 
trawl much faster for free-swimming fish than lor flat-fish. Thus, while 
many fishermen think a speed of one-half to 1 knot is ample for catching 
soles, the Brixham and Plymouth trawlers, when in pursuit of hake, 
generally tow their trawls from 2J to 3 knots. 
Mr. Sims says: In fishing hard ground for soles we should shorten 
the ground-rope and not drag the trawl quite so fast; just go with the 
tide. But if we are fishing for hake or haddock, then we say ‘give 
her sheet;’ that is, force it all you can, so that you do not lift it off 
the ground.” 
Of course, this increase of the rate at which the trawl travels over the 
ground renders the escape of these fish much less probable than it 
would otherwise be, since the net is kept almost clear of the ground, or 
barely skimming it, which seems to be necessary to catch hake or 
other free-swimming species. But, though the trawl scarcely drags on 
the bottom, it requires a brisk breeze of wind andevery sail that can be 
spread on a vessel to obtain the requisite speed. On the Plymouth and 
Brixham smacks, according to Holdsworth, “a half square-sail or sort 
of lower studding-sail is frequently rigged up to a yard-arm on the 
weather side in addition to the ordinary sails, if the wind be sufficiently 
aft for it to stand, and the curious appearance is often presented of the 
vessel lying over to the breeze and apparently rushing through the 
water when in reality, with all the help of a great spread of canvass 
and a favorable tide, she is not going more than 5 knots over the 
ground.” 
From the foregoing it will be seen that the beam-trawl is a very effect- 
ive implement for the capture of ground fish on smooth bottom, in com- 
paratively shallow water, where this form of apparatus can only be 
worked with the best success, as will readily be understood from what 
has previously been said concerning its construction and the fishing 
grounds where it is chiefly operated. 
1 Deep-sea Fishing and Fishing Boats, p. 76. 
