Shooting the Net

When the fishermen put the net into the sea it was called shooting the trawl.

On arrival at the fishing grounds the real work started. The huge net with the heavy trawl doors and 24-inch iron bobbins to weight the net to the seabed and help it over the rocky surface had to be heaved over the side with all the connecting wires and shackles. The entire gear would weigh several tons.

Marks on the warp would indicate when the net was down and towing could begin. The trawler would sail at about three knots for about two to three hours before hauling the catch, emptying it on deck and shooting once more.