soon as they caught sight of the school. When they see the first, they
sing out `Heva;' but what it means I don't know, except to give notice
to the men in the boats."

Meantime, the rowers were straining their muscular arms to the utmost,
until they reached the school, when they immediately united the nets
they had on board; and thus starting from the same point, quickly began
to cast them out, until they formed a circle not less than two thousand
feet in circumference, in the midst of which we could see the shining
fish leaping and struggling in a mass together.

Truck told us that the seine was about twelve fathoms deep, that it thus
formed a wall, the upper part being supported by corks, and the lower
weighted by lead.

While the circle was being formed, a third boat was employed in driving
the fish toward the centre of the enclosure, as there was a risk that
they might otherwise escape before it was completed. The wind was very
light, and the sea calm, so that we could watch the operation at our
leisure. The other boats, now fastened with long ropes to the seine,
began slowly dragging it towards the shore, the fish, meantime, mostly
keeping in its centre. Now and then a few would make their escape by
leaping over it, but the greater number did not appear to have the sense
to do this.

We followed them, as we knew where there was water for the nets there
must be water for us. At length, we saw them approach a sandy beach.
Here the rowers ceased exerting themselves; but they did not attempt to
drag the net on to the beach, for it would inevitably have been broken
through by the vast quantity of fish inside. Several smaller boats had
put off, the men in them carrying small nets and baskets. They now
commenced what is called "tucking."

The small nets were thrown out, each forming a circle, and the fish
caught in them were hauled on board in the ordinary way. The other
boats ladled out the pilchards with baskets. Each boat as she was laden
pulled back to the shore by a passage left open for her to pass through,
which was immediately closed again.

A number of women and lads, with creels on their backs, were collected
on the beach to carry the fish up to the curing-house, situated some
little way off on the top of the downs.

A considerable time was occupied in emptying the seine, for though no
fish appeared on the surface of the water, the tucking nets brought up a
considerable quantity which were swi