FISHING GEAR AND METHODS 49 



with a number of droppers (gangens or offshoots) to which baited hooks 

 are attached (Figure 4.4C). Longhnes may be fished on the bottom, at 

 intermediate depths, or near the surface. The advantage of the longline 

 method of fishing is that it allows fewer men to handle a large number of 

 hooks which can be fished over a wide area. The halibut fishery of the 

 Pacific Northwest is a good example of one of the world's principal long- 

 line fisheries. The basic unit of gear in this fishery is a skate which con- 

 sists of a groundline usually made up by joining six 50-fathom lengths 

 of hemp line. The hooks are attached to 5- or 6-foot long gangens w^hich 

 are spaced along the groundline at intervals of 13 to 18 feet. Each skate 

 containing 100 to 120 hooks is coiled and baited prior to fishing. When 

 the gear is ready to set, a flag marker, buoy keg, and anchor are thrown 

 overboard as the vessel runs ahead. As the vessel continues on course, 

 the longline is played out through a chute on the stern. A line vessel 

 may set any number of skates to form a string of gear. When the com- 

 plete string has been set, another anchor line and float marker are dropped. 

 After the gear has been fished or ''soaked," one end of the longline is 

 picked up and the gear retrieved using a power gurdy controlled by a 

 fisherman at the rail of the vessel. As the fish are brought to the surface 

 they are gaffed and lifted aboard. During the process the lines are recoiled, 

 baited, and made ready for another set. 



Pelagic (floating) longline gear which is used in many areas of the 

 world is similar to that described for halibut; however, the gear is sus- 

 pended from a number of floats and the droppers spaced a considerable 

 distance apart (approximately 15 fathoms). The basic unit of gear in the 

 Japanese floating longline is the basket which contains a main line to 

 which are attached approximately 12 to 14 hooks, each spaced 15 fathoms 

 apart. Prior to setting, the main lines from each basket are knotted 

 together so that the desired number of baskets may be fished in a string. 

 Floats are attached to the gear as it is being set, and as in the halibut 

 fishery, markers are set at each end of the string. A special line hauler 

 is used to haul and coil the gear. 



Nets 



Many types of nets are used to exploit fishes, the most important of 

 which include encircling nets, trawls, and drift nets. 



Encircling nets are the most important type used to capture fish. The 

 most advanced encircling net is the purse seine (Figure 4.4A). The purse 

 seine is a wall or modified wall of net which is used to encircle a school of 

 fish. The top of the net is fitted with a number of floats, while the bottom 

 of the net is weighted. A pursing cable threaded through rings under the 

 net allows the fisherman to close off or pouch the bottom of the net, 



