298 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



seine fishery, especially that for mackerel, is due to the excellence of 

 these boats, which are justly celebrated for their many good qualities. 



"The capture of fish with a purse seine has been so fully discussed in 

 the 'History of the American Menhaden' by Prof. G. Brown Goode, 

 that it will not be necessary for me to speak of it here, since, without 

 doubt, the Government of New South Wales is in possession of several 

 copies of the above work. 



"The set-line or bultow which has been sent to Sydney is the same 

 in size and general construction as those which are used on the first* 

 class American schooners engaged in the cod fisheries. Two men manage 

 a line of this kind, though it is divided into sections for greater con- 

 venience in handling, and, if desirable, two or more set-lines may be 

 made of it. In regard to the apparatus used by the French at New- 

 foundland, it is, perhaps only necessary to say that for several years 

 past they have adopted the same kind as is employed by the Americans, 

 though, as a rule, the former are not so particular in rigging their gear 

 as the latter, so far as neatness and completeness are concerned. The 

 set-line has been constructed of the best materials and in the most 

 thorough manner. It comprises the following parts, namely : Ground 

 line, nearly 11,150 feet long; 2,000 books attached to the ground line 

 by small lines called gangings*, each 3 feet long (the hooks are placed 

 5£ feet apart) ; two small anchors, two keg buoys to mark the position of 

 the line, two buoy lines, each 100 fathoms long, two flags for the buoys, 

 and a 'trawl roller' and two pairs of 'nippers.' 



" The set-line itself, with its several parts of anchors, buoys, &c, is 

 so well understood by the fishermen of most countries that I will not 

 presume to say anything here of it or of its use. Of the trawl roller and 

 woolen nippers, articles which are not well known to any but American 

 fishermen, I will speak more at length. These, like the seine-boat fit- 

 tings, are ' extras,' but since they are considered indispensable by our 

 fishermen, and the cost is trifling, I sent them with the bultow. The 

 latter can be handled much quicker and with far more ease with the 

 assistance of these articles than it could possibly bo otherwise. The 

 trawl roller is secured to the gunwale of the boat, near the bow, in such 

 a manner that the line passes over it as the bultow is pulled in by 

 the fishermen. The woolen nippers are held on the hands of the fisher- 

 man (one on each hand), who is thus enabled to grasp the line firmly and 

 to pull with all his strength, an impossible feat for a barehanded person. 

 Herr von Behr, President of the Deutsche Fischcrei Verehi, assured me 

 that, though simple in contrivance, and comparatively insignificant in 

 appearance, the woolen line-nippers, in his opinion, deserved to rank 

 among the most important of the American exhibits at Berlin. 



"My interest in the success of the attempt to introduce the purse- 

 seine and set-line into the fisheries of New South Wales is my only 

 excuse for incurring the additional expense necessary to guard against 



"The second "g" is pronounced soft like "j"j thus gun-gings. 



