THE MENHADEN FISHERY 151 



and the torn retrieved, the wings of the seine are hauled aboard by means 

 of the power-driven blocks mounted in the purse boats (Figure 11.1). 

 The fish are gradually concentrated in the bunt between the two purse 

 boats. A small skiff, called the striker boat, is sometimes used to support 

 the corkline, particularly when a heavy catch has been made. After the 

 carrier vessel is brought alongside, a flexible suction hose is lowered into 

 the net, and the fish are pumped into the hold. A number of carrier 

 vessels are equipped with an electrical shocking device w^hich attracts 

 and immobilizes the fish around the end of the suction hose. Use of this 

 gear not only increases the efficiency of the pumping operation, but 



fc. A«__,-.^. 



^^^Lm. 





Figure 11.1. Menhaden purse seine in operation. The wings of the siene are being 

 hauled aboard the two purse boats by power-driven blocks. After the fish have been 

 concentrated in the bunt, the carrier vessel will move along side for transfer of the 

 catch into the hold. 



minimizes the loss of large sets in which the fish cannot be raised because 

 of their heavy weight ^ 



Menhaden fishing is conducted only during daylight hours. The carrier 

 vessels usually arrive on the fishing grounds about dawn so as to reach, 

 in the shortest possible time, any concentrations of fish reported by the 

 spotter pilots. Vessels from a given plant frequently operate as a fleet 

 in nearby waters, but when fish are scarce, vessels may disperse and range 

 100 miles or more from their home plant. 



Catch. Because of the large quantities in which the fish are caught 

 and the rapidity with which they decompose, vessels generally return 

 with the catch to the processing plant at the end of the day. Accordingly, 

 the fish are usually landed at the plant within 10 to 15 hours after being 

 taken from the water. Vessels equipped with refrigerated holds may 



