428 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The plaice band line is a double coil line about 50 fathoms long bearing 30 pieces 

 of lead each weighing about 2£ ounces. These pieces of lead serve to hold the line 

 against the current. The distances between them grow less and less as we approach 

 the hook. To the hook is attached a flat circular piece of lead, and beside this there 

 is a long line for tying the bait, for which sardines, either fresh or salted, are used. 



A form of pole-trawl for soles and flounders, such as is used in the seas near the 

 province of Owari, was exhibited.  It consists of a pouch with two wings and a net- 

 ting stretched between their upper margins. The pouch is about 21 feet long, and its 

 meshes are from a little less than 1£ to about 2 inches. The wings are about 30 feet 

 long and their meshes are about 2 inches. To prevent any damage to the pouch, a 

 hempen netting with meshes of about 3£ inches is spread below it ; this is worked 

 with full sail at a depth of 100 to 200 feet. To keep the pouch and the wings open, a 

 long pole is projected from each end of the boat, and to these the drag-ropes are tied. 



The plaice gill net is made of hemp. A single netting is about 165 feet long and 6 

 feet high, and the meshes are about 6 inches. To the upper margin is attached a 

 strong rope of straw with wooden buoys, and to the lower a similar rope with stones. 

 When being used, from ten to twenty of such nettings are joined into a single net, to 

 one end of which are then tied a wooden grapnel and a float. The net is used on sandy 

 bottoms at the depth of 50 to 00 feet. 



The flatfish are mostly eaten raw, only a small proportion being dried for pres- 

 ervation. They are also pressed for oil. Dried flounders are chiefly prepared on the 

 coasts of the inland sea. They are mostly sold to the mountain villagers. Flounder 

 oil is a by-product in the preparation of the preceding; it is used for lighting purposes 

 in some retired localities. A scrap, made by pressing flounders, is used in agriculture. 



CARP AND GOLDFISH. 



The carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a food fish of considerable importance in parts of 

 Japan. A form of weir intended for the capture of carp and crucian carp is used in 

 Lake Biwa in the province of Omi. It is made of bamboo splints and for posts bam- 

 boo poles are used. The weir consists of three inclosures which, however, have no 

 intimate relation with one another, but are complete each by itself. Of these three, 

 that nearest the bank is small and low, being about 10 feet high, and the intervals 

 between the splints being a little over one-fourth of an inch wide. The next one is a 

 little larger, being about 12 feet high with the intervals between the splints about f 

 of an inch. The last inclosure is largest, and is about 15 feet high with the intervals 

 between the splints about If inches. It is intended mainly for carps and crucian carps. 



Of the goldfish (Carasaius auratus) we distinguish three varieties, viz, ryuMn, 

 waMn, and maruko. Various other names are given, according to the form of the 

 caudal fin. The most costly form is the so-called "lion-head" variety of Maruko, 

 which has numerous warts on its head. A pair of this variety, male and femaie, often 

 costs more than 100 yen; and even the most common specimen can not be obtained 

 for less than 5 yen. The goldfish spawns from the latter part of April. The culti- 

 vators usually make their fish spawn three times with intervals of about one week. 



