8 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



for taking the large winter cod iu that locality. Smaller- meshed nets 

 are, however, being prepared for the bank and summer shore-fisheries. 



The size of the nets depends somewhat on the locality where they are 

 used, and also on the movements or habits of the fish. In some places 

 where the cod keep close to the bottom, long shoal-nets are probably 

 the most suitable, while at other points, as at the Lofoten Islands, where 

 they are often found in the greatest numbers some distance from the 

 bottom, deeper nets are required. 



The nets made for Captain Martin were 50 fathoms long and 3 fath- 

 oms deep, but as nearly all the fish were caught near the bottom, other 

 I)arties have since had shoaler and longer nets ; the most of those lately 

 made for the shore-fleet are 100 fathoms long and 2 deep.* These are 

 hung to small double lines of opposite lays, and they are tanned before 

 being used. It may be well to mention here the Dutch method of tan- 

 ning cotton herring-nets, which is thought better than any other by those 

 foreign fishermen, and may, perhaps, be applied with equal advantage 

 to other nets, when made of that material. The tan is made by boiling 

 catechu in water in the proportion of one liound of the former to two 

 and a half gallons of the latter. When it is sufficiently strong the nets 

 are soaked in it for twenty-four hours, after which they are dried. They 

 are tanned and dried three times, and then soaked iu linseed oil. A 

 pound of oil is provided for each i^ound of net, and they are allowed to 

 remain in it as long as any will be absorbed. They are then well drained 

 and spread out on the ground to dry, after which the process is com- 

 X^leted by tanning them once more. 



Glass floats, similar to those of Norway, have been used on the Amer- 

 ican nets.t These cost about 30 cents each, when covered, and twenty- 

 fi.ve of them are attached to a 50-fathom net. Bricks are used for sink- 

 ers, one of which is fastened to the foot of the net directly beneath each 

 of the floats, they being held iu the same manner that the stone sinkers 

 are, as shown in Plate III. It is probable that suitable metal sinkers 

 may soonj^e devised, and perhaps desirable improvements may be made 

 in the floats as well. The cost of nets 50, fathoms long, with floats at- 

 tached, is about $18. 



Fourteen-pound trawl-anchors have been found quite suitable for Ips- 

 wich Bay, one being attached to each end of a gang of three nets, but 

 it is quite i^robable that heavier ones will be required where there is 

 deeper water and more current. 



The buoys are common quarter-barrels, rigged in the same manner as 

 for trawling. 



* These nets liave beeu princii^ally made by tlie American Net and Twine Company, 

 and H. & G. W. Lord, Boston, Mass. 



t These are made at the glass factories in Boston. 



