U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



INTRODUCTION 



The United States with its long coastline on two oceans, the great 

 inland lakes, and large rivers, is among the leading nations of the world 

 concerned with commercial fishing. The gear and fishing vessels are 

 naturally of a great variety, but the hook, the net, and the trap are still, 

 as they have been for centuries, the main types of gear used. Hooks by 

 the hundreds are now used on one line, called the long-line; nets have 

 been developed into purse seines, beam and otter trawls, and mile-long 

 gill nets; traps have been enlarged into the gigantic traps for salmon and 

 the extensive Great Lakes trap nets. Sail and steam have given way to 

 gasoline and Diesel power. Shipbuilding techniques and fishing exper- 

 iences are reflected in the modern fishing vessel. When the fishing 

 grounds are located far from the home port, freezing facilities have 

 sonrietimes been installed aboard the vessel. Most of the larger fishing 

 vessels are now equipped with electronic navigation and fish-finding de- 

 vices. A recent development in fishing gear is the power block used in 

 the salmon fisheries. The midwater trawl has been successfully intro- 

 duced into some European fisheries within the last few years, but thi s 

 gear is still in the experimental stage in America. 



A selection of some of the most important types of fishing gear 

 and vessels in use today, in the United States and Alaska, is illustrated 

 in this leaflet. Descriptions of representative types of fishing vessels 

 are also included. General range of length, beam, draft, net tonnage, 

 construction, engine, refrigeration, speed, average crew, length of 

 trip and convertibility, are indicated. The main fishing areas are shown 

 on maps, and includes only United States fishing activities. 



Leaflets describing in detail some of the fishing methods men- 

 tioned herein are available on request. See list inside back cover. 



