shoot 1 v Cent ~ 11; Fisheries of U S (1887), p. 448.
1 To place or set a net or fishing line in position in the water.
1792 CARTWRIGHT Gloss i, xi A seine is hauled, by shooting it, by degrees, out of a boat into the water, and hauling it on shore again by the two ends. 1865 CAMPBELL 86 Scrambled up again, and got down on the other side at a place where a boat was hauling caplin. They shot a seine in a rocky bay, and hauled it into the boat. P 9-73 The cod-seine ... was used in shallow water about five or six fathom deep. It was shot (set) in a circular shape, so that the last end overboard could be brought near enough to the first end, so that both ends would be on board for hauling purposes. 1977 Peopling of Nfld 142 We'd use the nets—seal nets. They were pretty common, most everyone had them. We'd use them up in the bight in anywhere from 20 to 60 fathom of water. They were right on the bottom. Two nets (a fleet) and they would be shot out from shore straight. 1979 TIZZARD 289 Then the trawl was 'shot out,' with myself in the front of the boat, when I was big enough, rowing in whatever direction my father said; it didn't matter much just so long as it was 'shot' across the bight. Ibid 312 There was only one thing to do: pull the herring net with the herring in it into the punt ... then carry it back and shoot it out.
2 Phr shoot the witch's heart: see WITCH.
