On arriving at the fishing grounds, soundings are made to determine the depth and character of the bottom. The best fishing is obtained over a gravel bottom. The trawls are then set while the vessel is in motion (a flying set), and if the fish are found to be abundant the vessel drops anchor. The flying set is carried out as follows: The dories are towed astern and, when the right spot has been selected, are dropped at regular intervals until all are away. Each dory as it is dropped rows off at right angles to the course of the vessel, and in the same general direction, throwing out its trawl as it proceeds until it is all set. The vessel then returns diagonally across the fishing grounds to the starting point, picking up the dories as their trawls are set. After a time, the dories are dropped again in the same order as before, and the men haul up the trawls and take the fish off. Each dory is then picked up in succession together with her catch. If this flying set is successful, and other conditions are favourable, the vessel drops her anchor and fishing proceeds. The manner in which the trawls are set depends upon the tide. They are always set as far as possible with the tide. Thus, the dories on the side of the vessel against which the tide is flowing row out against the tide, until they are about a trawl-length from the ship. They then set the end of the trawl at the point, and work towards the vessel. On the other side of the vessel the trawl is set from the vessel with the tide towards the dory. Each end of the trawl is attached to an anchor by a line 1 fathom in length, and to a buoy by a line 25 fathoms longer than the depth of the water at that point. Thus, the trawl is situated just above the ground. The trawls are set once a day and drawn three hours afterwards, or set in the afternoon and drawn the following morning. The shorter the time between setting and drawing, the better the condition of the fish. In hauling the trawl, one man stands in the bow of the boat and hauls in the trawl, detaching the fish, the other man receiving the trawl and coiling it. A dory carries on an average 1,000 lbs. of fish, and may sometimes make two or three trips before the line is cleared. The fish are “gaffed” from the dories to the fishing vessel and are kept on deck, packed between division boards to prevent sliding or turning of the fish by the movements of the vessel.