344 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
feet apart aud leaning over tbe beam. (See Plate XVII.) As the vessel 
rolls to windward a pull is made to get in the slack of the net, which is 
hauled over the beam and held from slipping back by the men leaning 
their breasts against it, while they reach out for a new hold. Heavy, 
hard work this is for five persons to do— two of whom are usually 
boys -and it frequently happens that the eager looks which are cast 
over the side to ascertain what success has been met with are unre- 
warded by the appearance of enough fish in the pockets to indicate a 
good haul y “ and it is a bad sign when nothing is said and the bag is 
got on board without a word.” 
On the occasion concerning which I am writing, though the catch 
was small, owing to the trawl having been torn on rough ground, the 
« cod” was not empty by any means. When, therefore, the net had been 
pulled in so that the cod-end was alongside, a selvagee strap was put 
around the trawl, the fish tackle hooked into it, and the bag of fish was 
hoisted up until it would swing in over the rail. 
Fig. 20. Hoisting the cod-end. 
While it was being raised, a “ bag-rope” was taken from the main 
rigging to the trawl-head and made fast, to prevent the fish from 
swinging across deck. W hen the net was in, the u poke-line” was cast 
off, the bottom of the trawl opened, and its contents fell on deck, a strug- 
gling, writhing, flapping mass. (See Fig. 21.) Xowhere else can one 
witness such a remarkable scene. 
The contents of the net differ according to season and locality, but 
generally they are of a most varied character— a wonderful exhibition of 
marine life. Sliding back and forth on the slippery deck, as the vessel 
rolls in the sea-way, are soles, turbot, brill, and plaice, giving vigorous 
but rather spasmodic slaps on the plank with their tails ; here may be 
seen the writhing body of a conger eel; there the fierce wolf fisn, with 
