70 



Figure 17. — Scap net for use around 

 the hatchery. 



USE OF SCAPS OR HAND NETS 



A scap net is very useful in the handling, sorting, 

 and transfer offish. Generally, the scap net is small, 

 from 6 inches to 1 foot square, ornot more than 8 to 10 

 inches in diameter if round. The netting material is 

 supported by a rigid framework attached to a wooden 

 handle. These nets usually have shallow pockets. The 

 netting material is of small mesh and soft in texture 

 so as to prevent injury to the fish being handled 

 (fig. 17). 



CARE OP COLLECTING GEAR 



Nets should be carefully inspected for holes, 

 repaired when holes appear, and thoroughly dried after 

 each use. Stored nets should be kept in a cool dry 

 place with a good circulation of air. If they are 

 frequently used in waters rich in organic matter, it 

 is well to have the nets treated occasionally with a 

 preservative, such as tannin or copper oleate. It is 

 not desirable to use tar as a preservative for minnow 

 nets because this substance has a tendency to harden 

 the fibres and thus introduce conditions which may be 

 injurious to the fish being handled. Small hand nets, 

 such as dip nets and scap nets, used daily in and about 

 a bait dealer's establishment, should be kept (when not 

 in use) in a sterilization bath consisting of a weak 

 chlorine solution. In this way, disease organisms 

 present will not be scattered from one tank to another. 

 One formula used in Michigan hatcheries consists of 26 

 fluid ounces of cleanser (3 percent available chlorine) 

 to 30 gallons of water. As chlorinated solutions 

 deteriorate rapidly in the presence oforganic materials 

 or when exposed to air, the bath must be strengthened 

 about once a week by adding 13 ounces of cleanser; once 

 a month the entire solution should be discarded and a 

 new bath prepared. A word of caution: chlorine is toxic 

 to fish and discretion should be used when disposing of 

 old sterilizing solutions. 



