THE FISHING INDUSTRY OF THE WEST. 257 
realized the handsome sum of £306. Some others were altogether 
unfortunate, and scarcely earned as many shillings, and some even 
lost several of their nets during that week. This boat earned for 
that week £356 5s. 6d., which is a very unusual sum. 
The Drift Pilchard Fishery has for a long time been very 
energetically worked ; but, on the whole, it cannot be considered 
as very prosperous, and in the future its prosperity will very con- 
siderably depend upon the success of the Pilchard Seine Fishing. 
The boats employed in this fishing are smaller than those used 
in mackerel fishing, but of the same rig. It is prosecuted nearer 
the shore than the mackerel. The nets used are similar in con- 
struction, with this difference, that they are sunk several feet 
below the surface of the sea; whereas when fishing for mackerel, 
the nets are so arranged that they are level with the surface. 
The Drift Herring Fishery is not of very great importance in 
these parts, though sometimes we get some satisfactory catches. 
The next important method of fishing is Hooking, both by 
Hand-line and by Long-line, or Boulter. Hand-line fishing is 
that method of fishing in which you simply attach one hook to 
the end of a line, with a weight connected to sink it, and, 
with suitable bait, fish for your prey in the orthodox fashion, 
waiting till you get a bite, and then, with care and great glee, pull- 
ing your capture on board. The principal kinds captured by this 
fishing are conger, ling, cod, whiting-pollock, hake, and ray; and 
they often afford good sport, as well as a trial of the fisherman’s 
patience. 
The Long-line, or Boulter, is an improvement on the Hand-line 
in some respects, and especially for certain kinds, such as conger, 
skate, ray, and ling; but for whiting and hake the usual Hand- 
lines are preferable. The Long-line is made as follows: A number 
of hooks are fastened to what is called the Boulter, at some 12 
fathoms apart. When the hooks are baited, they are let down to 
the bottom, and remain there for a tide-time, when the fishermen 
haul them on board again, which is not always very easy work. 
Four thousand hooks are shot at a time by one Boulter in this 
fishery, spreading over a considerable stretch of ground. Hookers 
are generally dandy-rigged, and are very suitable for this work. 
