6 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



tened to the bottom of the net at equal distances apart, being held in a 

 double string, as shown in Plate III. 



Large stones are used instead of anchors to hold the nets to the bot- 

 tom. These weigh from 72 to 144 pounds, the heavier one heading the 

 current, and the smaller being on the other end of the gang, containing 

 twenty to thirty-five nets. Besides these " mooring rocks," there are 

 others of smaller size that are held to the nets by a foot-line, one end of 

 which is fastened to the stone which lies on the bottom, and the other 

 to the rope that connects the lower part of the nets together. The 

 larger stones are generally slung with rope, but sometimes with a band 

 of iron around them, with an eye or ring to which the foot-line can be 

 fastened. Iron anchors are not used, as the nets are liable to be torn 

 on them should they settle on the bottom. Plates VI and VII show 

 how the mooring rocks and the other stones are attached to the nets. 



Buoys of different kinds are used by the Norwegian fishermen, but, 

 according to Mr. Wallem, at the Lofoten Islands glass buoys, having a 

 capacity of about three to five gallons, are the most common. These 

 are generally egg-shape and are covered in the same manner as the 

 glass floats. Sometimes a buoy is made by fastening several of the 

 latter around a staff, as shown in Plate X. The glass buoys, of both 

 kinds, are employed in the trawl as well as the net-fishery; they will 

 rise to the surface again after having been under water for several days, 

 an advantage not possessed by other kinds, and it seems that buoys of 

 this description might be profitably used by our bank-fishermen, who 

 frequently lose large quantities of gear on account of the wooden ones 

 bursting and filling with water when they are submerged to any con- 

 siderable depth. Hard- wood, iron-bound kegs are used by some of the 

 Norwegian net-fishermen. From two to four glass floats, such as are on 

 the nets, are fastened to the bight of the buoy-line, at different dis- 

 tances from the buoy, for the purpose of keeping the slack or scope 

 from going on the bottom when there is no current. Where there is a 

 strong tide, and a probability of the large buoy being drawn under the 

 surface of the water, a number of the glass balls are attached to it with 

 a line, these serving as "watch-buoys" for the other. Plate V shows 

 how the glass floats are fastened to the buoy-line and buoy. 



2. — Newfoundland methods. 



The nets employed in the Newfoundland cod-fisheries are usually 

 made of hemp twine one size smaller than salmon-twine, which is also 

 occasionally used. The size of the mesh is generally about 6 inches 

 (3 inches square), a large mesh not being required for the small fish 

 that frequent that coast. The nets vary in length from 50 to 80 fathoms, 

 and in depth from 3 to 4 fathoms. They are hung to the lines in the 

 same way that the Norwegian nets are, tlie foot-line being l:|-inch rope, 

 while small-sized double lines, of opposite lays, are the hangings for 

 the top and ends. Eope is used on the lower part of the net, because, 



