Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 9.djvu/262

 252 FISHERIES [ENGLISH. end of tbo train of nets are entirely black. The only part of the gear iti connexion with the long string of nets is the warp, a stout rope to which each net is fastened by two smaller ropes called &quot; seizings,&quot; and long enough to allow the warp to hang down near the foot of the nets. This warp has a twofold purpose : it prevents the loss of the nets if by any chance a vessel should pass through and cut them when near the surface, an accident not unlikely to happen, as the nets are only used at night and extend a considerable distance, often in the course of trading vessels going up and down the coast; and it is by means of the warp the nets are hauled in, the strain being thus brought evenly, by means of the seizings, on each separate net. The Yarmouth drift boats are the largest used for this kind of fishing on any part of our coasts. They are fine decked vessels of about 36 tons, the largest being upwards of 52 feet on the keel, with about 17 feet beam and 7 feet depth of hold. The universal rig has long been that of a 1-iggcr, with two masts only, and they carry a jib, a large dipping fore-lug, and a mizen with a topsail. The inizen- mast is always kept standing, but the fore-mast is made to lower backwards when fishing is going on; so as to enable the vessel to ride easier, as at that time she is head to wind and without any sail that can steady her. The mast is not lowered on to the deck, however, but, as is the practice with all large drift-boats, the head is supported on a wooden crutch 10 or 12 feet high, in the Yar mouth vessels called a &quot;mitch-board.&quot; In this manner the mast lies very snug, and does not interfere with the room on deck. The interior of the vessel is fitted up with separate spaces for the nets, warp, fish, and salt, of which last a quantity is always taken to sprinkle the fish with before they are stowed away. These boats carry as many as ten or twelve men, as the labour of hauling in the nets is considerable; but more than half the crew are landsmen who are mainly employed at the capstan by which the warp and nets are got in. Strength, and not nautical know ledge, is required for this work; and all the important part of the fishing the deciding where to work and at what depth to place the nets is the business of the experienced fishermen. Drift-net fishing is with rare exceptions only carried on at night. The time for commencing is just before sunset, and the nets are then got into the water by the time it is dark. When the vessel has arrived at what from certain indications, such as numerous seabirds or possibly fish playing at the surface, or even without any special signs to guide the fishermen may be thought a likely place for fish, for there is a great deal of speculation in the matter, the vessel is sailed slowly before the wind, and if possible across the tide; then the net is shot or thrown out over the vessel s quarter, the men being distri buted at regular stations, some hauling up the net from below, others throwing it over and taking care that it falls so that the foot is clear of the corked back; others, again, looking after the warp which has to be paid out at the same time, and seeing that the seizings are made fast to it in their proper places. When it is all overboard, and about 15 or 20 fathoms of extra warp, called the &quot;swing- rope,&quot; given out, the vessel is brought round head to wind by the warp being carried to the bow; the sails are then taken in, the mast lowered, a small mizen set to keep the vessel with her head to the wind, and the regulation lights are hoisted to show that she is fishing. A few of the hands remain on deck to keep a look out, and the vessel and nets are left to drift wherever the wind and tide may tike them. It is very rarely that there is an absolute calm at sea; and if there is the faintest breath of air stirring, the fishing boat will of course feel it more than the buoys supporting the nets; she will consequently drift faster, and being at the lee end of the train, will have a constant pull upon them, and so keep them extended almost in a straight line, so that every portion of the nets hangs clear and free from folds. If there is a great deal of wind more swing- rope is allowed, so that the nets may not be dragged through the water or any undue strain be thrown on the warp, as the more warp there is out the greater spring there is in it, and the less danger of its breaking. The first net in the train is culled the &quot; look-on &quot; net, and frequently after an hour or so, that one is hauled in to see if any fish have been taken, and if so, in what part of the net. If it has boen allowed to sink too low, that will be shown by the fish being only in the upper part of the net, or vice versa. Such an examination of one of the nets (called in Scotland by the name of &quot;preeing&quot;) also some times discloses the fact that dog-fish are unpleasantly abundant, and this makes it desirable to haul in the nets very soon, as these pests of the fisherman do a great deal of mischief to both the fish and the nets if they are allowed to remain long in the water. The operation of hauling in the nets is carried on in the same systematic manner as in the case of shooting them. The laborious part of the work is now performed by the &quot; capstan-men,&quot; whose duty it is to heave in the warp, the regular fishermen looking after the net as it comas on board, and shaking out the fisli, which is at once sprinkled with salt and stowed away in the fish room. After a day or two, depending on the success or failure of the fishing, the vessel returns to port; and the general practice since the opening of the extensive covered iish market by the side of the Yarmouth haven is for the luggers to go into the river and deliver their cargoes direct into the market. It is at times, however, a dillicult matter to enter the haven, and then the old practice of landing the fish on the beach in front of the town is resorted to. The landing is effected by means of large &quot;ferry-boats,&quot; which go oil loaded with baskets of a peculiar shape, called &quot;swills,&quot; each one capable of holding 500 herrings, and put them on board the lugger which is anchored at a short distance from the shore. The fish are then counted rapidly into the baskets, which are placed, when full, in the ferry-boat, and as soon as she is loaded she returns and is laid broadside on to the beach. A set of strong, active fellows, known as &quot; beachmen,&quot; at once go to work, and two men taking each basket between them in their arms, soon carry up the fish to the carts waiting to take them either to the market or direct to the curing houses. The situation of the market by the side of the haven is very convenient; and, if required, more room can be easily provided b} adding some of the vacant land imme diately adjoining it, and with the same river frontage. The market was completed only in 1867, and although the Yarmouth fishery has been carried on continuously for many centuries, it is only since the opening of the new market that an accurate account has been kept of the quantity of herrings landed there. The following statement shows the number of lasts of fish received at the market during each of the ten years 1868-77, and as a &quot;last&quot; of herrings contains 13,200 fish, some idea will be gained of the produce of the Yarmouth fishery, without taking into consideration what is landed elsewhere by Yarmouth boats : Years. Lasts. Years. Lasts. 1868 15,098 1873 18,796 1869 13,608 1874 17,724 1870 19,420 1875 11.820 1871 19,008 1876 12,824 1872 14,450 1877 18,900 The following is the mode of counting parts of the east coast of England : 4 herrings 33 warps 10 hundreds 10 thousands 1 warp. 1 hundred 1 thousand 1 last lien-ings on almost all 132 fish 1,320 13,200 Only 30 warps or 120 fish, however, go to a &quot;hundred&quot; of mackerel. It will be observed that considerable fluctuations have taken place in the produce of the Yarmouth fishery during the last ten years; and there is no doubt that they have been almost entirely caused by variations of weather during the herring season.