Ab reef fishes in general tend to seek shelter, only those 

 coasts which are not exposed to the prevailing wind can 'be considered. 

 Schools are spotted with the aid of a water telescope ae in many 

 kinds of reef fishing. 



Upon locating a good fishing ground, the gear is set. The 

 best fishing time is in the early morning and in the evening, as the 

 fish seem to "be more active at these times. Nets are put out in 

 gangs of five to seven pieces of trammel tied end to end to form a 

 unit. To the two ends of the gang and tied to the corkline and then 

 on down to the leadline, are anchor ropes to which are fastened heavy 

 anchors or weights to keep the net from drifting. From this same 

 stringer, a line at each end of the gang extends to buoys or floats 

 at the surface used primarily as markers. Each gang is set in water 

 seldom over 20 fathoms (120 ft.) deep, and against the tide. 



When a gang of nets is being set, one end is uut out with 

 an anchor and a buoy attached; then the nets are paid out gradually, 

 keeping the lead and corklines separate to prevent entangling. As 

 the nets are payed out, the boat travels along at a low speed. Thus 

 the nets comprising one gang are stretched out in a long line. 

 Finally the last end of the geing is anchored and a terminal buoy 

 secured. Usually the nets are left in their respective locations 

 within a few miles of each other for a period of from 12 to ?M- hours 

 before they are inspected for fish unless sharks are abundant when, 

 of course, they have to be inspected more often. 



In hauling the net, a fisherman takes hold of the buoy and 

 heaves that end of the net and anchor on board. While he hauls in 

 the corkline, another man brings in the leadline, while a third picks 

 the fish from the webbing. If the catch has been good, the gang is 

 set In the same ground, otherwise a new location is soxaght. This 

 operation can be handled mechanically if desired. 



The nets are brought ashore after two or three trips for 

 drying and mending. Nets are always tanned before being used, and 

 later at intervals are treated with preservatives to insure longer 

 usefulness. 



Trammel nets may be fished by setting, as described, or 

 by drifting. This type of net may also be run around a spot where 

 fish are working, leaving one end close to shore and running the 

 other end out in deeper water aroxind the fish and back toward shore, 

 making several "s" turns with this end. This set can be made to 

 conform to the reef contour if necessary. Fish are frightened by 

 the fishermen pounding on boat and splashing the water and driving 

 them into deeper water, where they strike the net. The fish usually 

 lead along until they come to a turn, where they would have to lead 

 back to shallow water towards the drivir^ that frightens them thus 

 they generally start diving into the net at the turns. Sometimes 

 several big fish will be found in one pocket, where they have followed 

 each other like sheeo. 



27 



