readily removed because it is secured to the larger net (or body) by means 

 of a cord and ring arrangement. A 7-foot, 3/l6-inch stainless steel cable 

 with lead weights serves as the footrope. The headrope is threaded through 

 five, 2 3 /8-inch -diameter sponge floats. Ends of the footrope and headrope 

 are attached to a 6-foot, 3/4-inch stainless steel pipe which functions as the 

 beann. 



In operation, the net is pulled by a bridle attached to the ends of 

 the pipe. When pulled slowly, the pipe drags along the bottom frightening 

 postlarvae off the bottom and into the net mouth. 



The standard practice is to attach a nylon cord to a stake driven 

 into the ground at the waterline. The cord is stretched taut parallel to the 

 waterline and used as a constant radius as the net is pulled along the bottom 

 in a half circle. This naethod assures that the length of tow, bottom, area, 

 and volume of water strained will be the same for each sample. 



Organisms regularly taken with this gear include: penaeid shrimp 

 5 to 50 mm. long; Mysis larvae and adults; crabs and crab larvae; amphipods; 

 arrow worms; fish eggs and fish 4 to 75 mm. long; ctenophores; diatoms; and 

 many other small planktonic and benthic animals. In one 425-foot tow, 4,700 

 penaeid postlarvae were caught. 



Pattern for cutting mesh 

 body of beam net. 



87 



