18 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX.
taken out as the net is under-run and taken aboard,
when the same process is repeated in another place.
I have dwelt rather at length on this form of fishing
because I have not seen it employed elsewhere.
Kettle, or keddell, fishing is only adopted to a limited
extent on the sandy shores of Foulness Island and
Shoebury. At one time, this was a very successful
plan, employed principally for the capture of the
various species of flat-fish which frequent the shallow
waters covering the sands at high tide. It resulted in
a fair number of Turbot being taken, although the hauls
were not confined exclusively to flat-fish, since any fish
passing between the entrances of the nets was almost
certainly retained.
Kettles, which may be considered as fixed seines,
vary in shape, size, and plan in the different districts
of the kingdom where they are in use. In Day's
Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland (vol, i., p. ciii.),
there is an illustration of the kind in use for catching
Mackerel on the South Coast of England. In Foulness,
kettle-nets take the form of the letter V, and are either
set singly or two or more in a line, with the apex of the
V, which is furnished with a purse, pointing away from
the shore. These nets are about 120 yards long by
4 feet high. They are fixed in position by stakes driven
into the ground ; to these, both the head- and ground-
ropes are attached. Thus a wide area, shallowest