[71] The boats which attend for the purpose of conveying the fish from the tuck net to the shore are termed "Dippers," the proprietors of which are differently compensated in different places; they either receive a certain proportion of the fish, as from one-fourth to one-sixth, according to the distance from the shore, or else they receive a certain sum of money for each boat load. When the fish are caught in the night, fires are instantly kindled on the nearest shore, as a signal for the boats in the bay to repair to the spot.
[72] These nets are of far greater antiquity than the Seine, the latter having been introduced from Ireland.
[73] These dregs are sold to the curriers, at about sixteen pence per gallon.
[74] The skimmings which float on the water in which the pilchards are washed, bear the name of Garbage, and are sold to the soap-boilers.
[75] In salting, packing, pressing, and preparing the fish for the market, there are at least 5000, 4-5ths of which are women; the rope-makers, blacksmiths, shipwrights, &c. upwards of 400; the twine spinners are women, about 150 in number; the makers and menders of nets are chiefly women and children, in all about 600. Nets are also made during the winter season, by the fishermen and their families. These numbers are of course exclusive of the seamen employed.
[76] One and All,—the motto of the Cornish arms.
[77] Cornwall is exempted from the payment of any duties on coal, so far as it is used for the working of the mines.
[78] All the walls in the neighbourhood are built of the same material; and since these vitreous cubes are so piled upon each other as to leave interstices, it has been facetiously observed that "in Cornwall the walls are built of glass, and that you may distinctly see through them."
[79] The value of this useful rush in checking the progress of sand, has been long known; there was an act of parliament in Scotland, so long ago as the year 1695, to prevent persons who collected this rush (then known by the name of Starre or Bent) for the purpose of making mats, from plucking it up, and thereby loosening the sand. A clause to the same effect was introduced into a multifarious act of parliament in the year 1742. The operation of this clause extends generally to the north-west coast of England; but such persons as claimed prescriptive right of cutting it on the sea coast of Cumberland are exempted from its operation.
[80] A highly illustrative series of this rock is deposited in the Geological Cabinet at Penzance.