388 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



netting, however, the company built in their own factory several machines of the 

 Scotch pattern. 



The limitations of this netting machine led the Net and Twine Company to expend 

 a very considerable sum of money in attempting to develop two or three inventions 

 designed to overcome the difficulty of knitting heavy twines, but none of them proved 

 satisfactory. In 18G2 a newly invented machine, quite different in principle and well 

 adapted to heavy work, was put in operation. Some years afterward an ingenious 

 native of the State of Connecticut, Mr. Squire, invented a machine for knitting fine 

 threads which possesses many advantages over the Scotch machine. 



The larger netting companies are using the Scotch machine which has been 

 improved somewhat in construction, and the 162-power machine, and the company we 

 have spoken of use also the machine of American invention in the manufacture of fine 

 thread netting, they having purchased the rights of the inventor. 



The extensive introduction of these different machines was, of course, a process 

 of gradual accomplishment, and while it was taking place the fisheries were undergoing 

 that wonderful expansion which we have little more than indicated in this paper. 

 Without the machines it would not be possible to produce the great variety of twine 

 and netting used, and it is true, no doubt, that the ability of the netting factories to 

 supply about everything imaginable has induced the fishermen to adopt a great many 

 sizes of mesh and twine which would not otherwise be considered necessary. 



We know quite well that what we have said about fish nets covers only a small 

 part of the subject, and perhaps not the most interesting part. A chapter might be 

 devoted to a description in detail of the methods of operating the various nets, to the 

 multiplication of forms in nets having the same general principle, and to the frequent 

 attempts, more or less successful, to apply new devices in parts of nets, such as the 

 tunnels of traps, bags or cods in sweep seines and so forth. It is also proper to con- 

 sider the effect of the multiplication of nets upon the supply of fish, but that is a 

 matter which we are content to have discussed by those who are equipped with such 

 knowledge of aquatic life — of the habits and nature of fishes, and of their capacity 

 for self-propagation — as to make their opinions valuable. Unfortunately this equip- 

 ment is not possessed by many who engage in public discussion of this subject; but 

 we hope that much trustworthy information may be disseminated by those who take 

 part in this congress. 



