Section VI. Fishing Nets and Instruments.
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I haue in one of the former chapters taken an occasion to speake of some things used about Fishing as you may se, Cha: 16. Numb.78. to 90. to which must be added as Posthumi, things of a later birth.
Roman anchor
45. In this square is two sorts of Instruments used in Sea-water affaires. The first is termed a Roman Anchor, or a double bent Anchor, soe anciently made in the old Roman coines and Medalls ...
Whale dart
The second is termed a Whale Dart, or Whale Hook and hath in it these seuerall parts; the Pheon or Barb, the shoulder, the Arme, the eye, the Ring, and the Rope.
Landing net
46. In this square are five thing used in Fishing. The first is a Landing Net, it is a round net set in an hoop or strong round Wyer with a long staffe fixed to it; the use of this is when an Angler hath struck a strong fish to big for [to] get it on land, then he will gently play with the fish and by degrees draw him towards the shore, where he will quickly clap this net vnder him and so heave him to land.
Gaff hook
The next just vnder the foresaid Net staffe, is a [?Gaff] Hook, it is an hooke with the sharp point turning a little outwards; and a deep socked for to fix a long pole or staffe in.
Casting net
The Third is set on the dexter side, and is termed a Casting net, the maner of makeing it is directly round, the middle part haueing the Masques or Mashes larger then the outside, which are very small: to the out Mashes are fixed plumets of Lead round it. Now there is a great Art and slight in casting it open and round on the water, which if it be artificially done, the lead immediately causeth it to sink streight down, where being drawne up againe by a cord fixed to the midle, all the fish that were vnder it will be brought into the net and there kept in by the plumets, which will draw all the skirt of the net togather that nothing can fall out.
Hoop net
The fourth is call an Hoop Net: It consists of a hoops set at an equall distance one from the other, and so couered round with a small Mashe nett and the open ends haue 2 other nets put into them, after the maner of Wilds, which when fish is gon through and got into the out nett, they cannot get out againe. Se cha: 16. Numb. 85.
Fishing dart
The Fift which lyeth in the sinister
base, is termed a Fishing Dart or
Speare; It is made of Iron with a
sockett to put a long staffe in and
there to fasten it; on the bottom part
is set into it seuerall dart heads all in a
Rowe; with this by thrusting it into
the water, Broad fish is much taken.
I suppose that which was aunciently called a Salmon Pipe, was such a kind of engine, wherewith they catched Salmon and such like fish.
[The image is labelled a salmon spear, though it does not correspond closely to the description.]
Sheet net
47. In this square are foure thing used in fishing. The first is termed a Sheet Nett; this is made with square Mashes, and is hung on a long pole or staffe; with this they use to drive small runing Brooks or Riveletts that the fish may be taken in more ebb places, it is Leaded at the bottom cord to make it sink.
Water dog
The second lieth vnder the staff of the fore said nett: and is termed a Dog; or Water Dog or an Anglers Dog, by which he looseth his Line or hook if they chance to be fastned to any thing in the water. It is made of flat Lead, a small and Great Round ioyned together, with holes answerable through the midst of both.
Unidentified
The third occupieth the fesse place and is termed, a ----.
Stall net
The Fourth which is in the base, is termed a Stall Nett; these are netts of a great length and breadth which are generally layd cross a River to catch or intangle such fish in them as cannot goe through the Mashes: they haue cork at the top cord to make it swim, and lead at the bottome to make that part sink, and ropes with great stons at the ends to keep them in their places, so that the runing of the Water cannot take them away.
Loubelling net
48. The Fishers instruments, or what this quarter an afford, shalbe seuerally spoken vnto as they ly in their order: and therefore shall begin with those on the dexter side.
The First and that which occupieth the chief, is termed a Loubelling Net; It is made round, and fixed to the end of a long staffe. after the maner of a Dareing nett, but that it is much larger. It is used in a dark night with a Bell and candle light, where, seing Birds lay on the Ground, lay it vpon them.
Bating needle
The second is a Bateing needle.
Anglers needle
The Third is an Anglers needle with a Thrid or silk lapped or wound about the midle of it.
Netting needle
The fourth and that in the dexter base, is called a Netting Needl or ... it is made of thin wood, or broad Lath, on which being cut according to form, the Nett thrid is wound vpon it, and so worked off into the Mashes.
Mesh gauge
The Fift is on the sinister side, and is termed a .... It is onely a long square peece of thin wood, made smooth with the edges rounded off: by these the smallness or largeness of the Nett Meshes are made, for look how broad the peece of wood is so large will the hole of the Meshes be.
Rope
The sixt which is in the sinister base, is termed a .... It is only a Rope or cord turned round and the end put through also.
Long net
49. In the chief of this square is a Long Nett, called a Tramelling Nett; It is is usually for the service it is put, made about 28 yards long and 5 yards broad. The ends are fixed on long poles by small cording, and a stronger cord runing cross it from corner to corner.
Deer hay
In former tyme Deere Stailer use a kind of engine made of cords called a deere Hayse or Haie: wherewith they used to catch deere, of some called a toile, for the Haye or Haye net, we use onely to take conyes boulting out of their holes.
Heck
And in the county of York, at the River Ouse, the inhabitants about, use to take fish with an engine of old called an Heck.
Twirl
In the Base of this square is an Instrument called a Twerle, or Line Reeles: It is to wind a long line of a fishing Rod vpon, and with a screw is screwed into the top of a Rod. This is for Pick fishing, or other larg fish, which being struck or haue the bate in their mouths will swim away with it which the Angler perceiueing lets his line goe a considerable length and so play with the fish drawing him too and againe, till he is made as tame that you may take him out of the water quietly.
Snap hook
50. In this square is seuerall sorts of Hooks drawn after their very forme of which I did formerly say something in the Art of Angleing cha: 3 nu: 42. The first is termed a Snap Hooke or a Gorge Hooke.
Spring hook
The second is a Spring Hooke, or Springer; it is a kind of double Hook with a spring, and a ring on the top; which being strucken into the mouth of any fish, the 2 hooks fly asunder, and so keeps the fish mouth open and so drowns it.
Double hook
The Third is termed a double Hook, or Shank haueing an eye and a two hookes. This is a kind of hook that hath 2 bendings one from the other, or contrary bent.
Single hook
The fourth is a single hook with an eye, all these sorts of Hooks with eyes are for larg fish to which their lines are fastned, or else haue wyer lines for a good length, whereas hook for small fish haue none, but are whipped about with silk to the Line.
Spring hook
The fift, and that extended all along the chief part, is termed an Hook, or a spring hook fastned to Wyer links and a Swivell. The Swivell is made fast to the line, which by it turning hook, keeps the links streight, which else would run into Knots. These kind of hooks thus fortified are to keep sharp biting fish, that being taken with the hook, they shall not be able to bite the line in two.
Roman anchor
51. He beareth a Roman Anchor (sans Flooks and Beame), Fretted with a dolphine reuersed. ...
Bait bag
The second in the sinister chief is Termed a Bate Bagg, that is a Bagg to carry Bate in for the Angler to bate his hooks: Baggs in which they carry worms of seuerall sorts, Magots, &c.
Trash bag
The Third, which is in the sinister Base, is termed a Trash Bagg, of some called an Apron, wherein are seuerall pocketts or diuisions to place the seuerall implyments in Order which the Angler hath occasion to use, as meterialls for all sorts and kinds of Fly fishing Lines, &c.
Shove net
52. In this square are three sorts of netts, for the catching of fish and fowle, as the first which is in the dexter chief is called a Shove nett, or a Shovell nett. It is a deep bag nett fixed to an halfe round hoop, and made fast to a long Pole or staffe; this at the coming in of Tydes is put into the water, into which if any fish come it is presently taken up and catched.
Trink
A Trink, was of old a Kind of Nett to fish withall.
Eave net
That on the sinister chief is termed an Eve or Easing nett, or a Sparrow nett or Purse nett; this is a double nett, the which if any bird from vnder the eves of an house fly into the wide mouth of it, they fly between the two netts and then they cannot gett out.
Decoy net
He beareth on the dexter side a Decoye Nett: with a duck swiming into the Mouth of the pipe. This is a fit embleme for all such as waite at their doores to draw and intise people in to their owne destruction.
In euery decoye there are foure of these kind of nett, that into what quarter the wind is, it will fall into on of these Netts, which decoy men call pipes.
Larking glasses
On the sinister side of this square are the formes of two sorts of Larking Glasses, the higher long like the ridge of an house couered with red cloth and diuerse peece of Looking Glasses fixed vpon it, this is set vpon a stock with a larg hole in the top of it and a long Slit in the side, in which the peg at the bottom of the Glass is put, where by the help of a line, the Larker can continually turn it about to make it shin and glitter in the Larks eyes, which they takeing pleasure in haue the netts cast ouer them. The other is a six cornered Glass riseing vp to a point, all ordered for use according to the foresaid.
Related text(s) Laying larking nets Fishing & fowling nets types
Oars
54. This square presents you with two sorts of Oares, such as were made of old, and as they were coined on the Roman Medalls. I can say noe more of them only to giue you their forme and shapes.
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