Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 27 



probably the most successful method and may be used if 

 a large enough boat is available and if there are at least 

 three or four men. 



The simple hand line. Generally two men go out and 



each one operates a single line. This line should be at 

 least 72-thread, medium laid and long enough for the 

 depth of the water fished. Six to eight feet of 1/16-inch 

 to 1/8-inch stranded wire cable or a 3/16-inch chain is 

 used as a leader which is connected to the line by a 

 swivel. Shark hooks 4 can be obtained in sizes from 2 

 to 4 inches across the jaw with either needle or ringed 

 eyes. When used with a hand line, they are generally 

 spliced directly to the wire leader. 



The chain set line is a system of multiple hook set lines 

 which can be set up in several ways. Figure 1, for ex- 

 ample, illustrates the most effective chain set line to use 

 where the ocean bottom is relatively even. Figures 2, 

 3 and 4 can be used where the ocean bottom is heavily 

 studded with coral which would hopelessly foul the 

 anchors and hooks of the first method. These lines are 

 illustrated on the following pages. 



Figure 1. This chain set line consists of a ground line 

 made up of sections of 3/16-inch galvanized chain, 600 

 feet long. At 30-foot intervals along this chain, 6 feet of 

 3/16-inch galvanized leader chain, together with swivel 

 and hook, are attached with heavy harness snaps (some- 

 times called snap hooks) to the main line. The line is 

 anchored at both ends and marked with ilag buoys at the 

 surface. One boat can tend two or three lines 1,200 to 

 1,800 feet long per day. 



* Shark hooks and chains are probably available at your local fishery supply 

 houses. They can be purchased in the United States from the following 

 firms: Wright and McGill Company, 1461 York Street, Denver, Colorado; 

 The Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Akron, Ohio, Dept. SOF; Ocean 

 Leather Products, Garden Street, Newark, New Jersey; and Bill Dewitt 

 Baits, Boxes and Fishhooks, Shoe Form Company, Inc., 1942 Orelius Avenue, 

 Auburn, New York. The Fish Hook Export Group, 16 Unicorn Hill, Red- 

 ditch, England, will supply the names of companies in the United Kingdom 

 which carry these supplies. For information regarding Canadian supplies, 

 inquiries should be addressed to the Trade Commissioner for the British 

 West Indies and British Guiana, 37 Board of Trade Building, Montreal, 

 P.Q., Canada. 



