BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 459 



certain seasons for the capture of migratory fish, and considering botli 

 the largeness of their meshes, which does not admit of young fish be- 

 ing captured, and the circumstance of their hanging down curtain-like 

 through only half the depth of the water in certain localities, or even 

 when reaching the bottom their causing no injury to the spawn that 

 might possibly be found at the bottom of the sea, we are of opinion 

 that their use can be allowed without prejudice to the multiplication 

 of lishes. 



The last complaint refers to the objectionable use of the trawl-net 

 (" gangamo "j, as it disturbs the bottom of the sea; to the use of the net 

 known generally under the name of "mendila" on account of its small 

 meshes; and to certain oval-shaped rush traps technically called "nassi 

 tal mulett," or " nassi tal ghalf," whose meshes being very small, and 

 baited as they usually are with biscuit-dust and rancid cheese, and laid 

 in shallow water and at the mouths of sewers, attract and capture great 

 numbers of fishes, some of which are only half an inch long. The 

 havoc made being so evident, we do not hesitate to recommend their 

 total prohibition and that a severe penalty be inflicted in case of their 

 use. 



This complaint refers also to the trammel-net (" parit") being allowed 

 to be cast in any locality within the harbors. As it is generally ad- 

 mitted that these nets frighten and drive away the fish from our ports, 

 we recommend that they be prohibited altogether inside the Great Har- 

 bor and Marsamuscetto and opposite the entrance to these places to 

 the distance of half a mile, and that their use, together with that of 

 the net called " tond tal plainti" in other localities, be granted by an 

 annual license subject to such restrictions as may be deemed proper. 



In order to further one of the most important objects of the regula- 

 tions in preventing the capture of young fish, we recommend that an 

 article be added, visiting with a severe penalty any one found- in pos- 

 session of such fish (commouly called "torbia"), and authorizing their 

 seizure on discovery. In order to facilitate the execution of such a 

 regulation, we appeudhereto alistof the non-migratory fishes with the 

 respective length under which the fish are to be regarded as " young." 



List offishe8 considered yoiunj when less than the length respectively specified. 



Valetta, Malta, April 29, 1874. 



