68 



Figure 15. — k trapnet for removing 

 minnows from the pond. 



glass traps took a total of 600 minnows (2-1/2 to 5-1/2 

 inches long) in l hour. The number of minnows captured 

 per trap per set ranged from 10 to 70. The average 

 duration of a set (established by food depletion) was 

 about 20 minutes. 



USE OF DROP NETS 



One of the nets frequently used in harvesting 

 minnows from lakes and ponds is the lift or drop net. 

 This net is usually square in design and it forms a 

 pocket when lifted directly upwards. Sometimes the 

 netting is supported by a rigid framework which pre- 

 vents collapse when lowering or lifting the net. Guy 

 ropes are attached to each corner to enable the opera- 

 tor to lift the net upward on an even keel. On occa- 

 sion, instead of a rigid framework support, the netting 

 is suspended from flexible steel bands running diago- 

 nally across the net: when the net is lowered, the 

 bands tend to " flatten" out; and when lifted, they bend 

 inward, creating a pocket (fig. 15). 



Whether the drop net is small (3 feet square) or 

 large (8 to 10 feet square), the principle of operation 

 is the same. The net is lowered to the desired depth 

 either by hand incase of the small net or by rope from 

 a tripod and pulley for the large net; bread and cracker 

 crumbs or oatmeal are wetted and thrown into the water 

 immediately above the net to attract the fish. Usually, 

 as soon as the bait has dropped to a depth equal to or 

 nearly equal to that of the set, the net can be -lifted. 

 When the small net is used, the fish can be lifted in 



