Young Farmers' Club

say "those who were free", because between hauls the bridge watches had to be shared, and the coal bunkers had to be trimmed

At hauling time the trawler was stopped. The trawl was winched up on the weather side; this made it an uncomfortable job in rough weather, but of course the sea gave its help in the manhandling of the trawl over the side. When the main net had been drawn in, the neck of the "cod-end" was looped on to the winch, and hauled up high over the deck. The "cod-end" is the bag-shaped end of the trawl; it is protected by cow-hide, and it was in this, of course, that the fish were collected. The bottom of the "cod-end" was ingeniously knotted, and with a pull on the rope the bag was opened, and the fish crashed on to the deck. With the trawl down again, the gutting and storing routine followed; and so to the end of the voyage, when, after only forty-eight hours at home, the crew would sail again.

Radar and radio aids have made the Skipper's task easier. He had not the means of seeking fish by radar, but he could navigate by it, and could always fix his position by Decca Navigator. His echosounding gear gave him accurate depths—important information for deciding the length of cable for the trawl—and if necessary a complete outline of the sea bed, and some information about the presence of fish. By radio he could find out fishing prospects from other skippers, and the loop aerial on the radio gave a further aid to navigation.

Such aids have now become essential, for competition in the North Sea is very strong. In eight days I saw trawlers of all the North Sea countries, and of Poland and the U.S.S.R.

The fisherman's life is hard, and hazardous both in its nature and in the rewards for his labour. A crew may do very well from the sale of a good catch on a good market, but poor catches or gluts on the market are by no means uncommon. On the other hand, there is at once an excitement and a simplicity about the work which perhaps explains why the men who leave the sea for shore jobs tend to go back to the sea. D.G.C.

THE YOUNG FARMERS' CLUB

Leader: K. G. COULTHARD, ESQ. Committee:

M. L. BYWATER (Chairman), C. B. M. GREGORY (Vice-Chairman), R. R. BALDWIN (Secretary), S. J. S. WROE (Treasurer), D. N. BROCKLEBANK )(Librarian),

K. H. TAYLOR.

There were only two meetings of the Club this term. The first was a visit to the Yorkshire Institute of Agriculture at Askham Bryan. The Institute consists of two mixed farms and a horticultural department, and we were fortunate enough to be shown round by Mr. Russell, the Principal. Miss Thompson conducted us round the poultry section and illustrated the advantages and disadvantages of egg-production by battery, deep litter and free-range methods. We

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