After the fish has been washed it is brought to the bawn and piled if the weather is unsuitable for spreading. The pile was originally covered with tree rinds (bark) to protect it from the rain, but later canvas was used. In "pile", part of the curing process occurs as moisture is squeezed from the fish by its own weight. Consequently, if the weather is not suitable a fisherman will pile and re-pile his fish so that the top fish in pile on one day are the bottom fish in pile on the following day. This is called "working" the fish.
