KEG LINES 



Keg line gear^ a ••/ariation of hook and line fishing, is used in 

 taking bluefin in Ne'ji England. The gear^ consisting of about seventy- 

 fathoms of raanila line attached to a wire leader and a baited shark hook, 

 is operated from anchored or drifting boats, Chum^ consisting of chopped 

 whiting, squid, small butterfish or other fish is used to attract the 

 bluefin. Vlhen the bait is taken the fishermen attempts to pull the tuna 

 aboard as quickly as possible. If the fish is toe large to be boated im- 

 mediately, or if more than one fish is hooked at the same time, the keg 

 is thrown overboard and the fish is permitted to fight it until tired out. 

 A single fisherman can operate as many as four keg lines. 



lop:g lines 



In long-line fishing, a very long line with baited hooks fastened at 

 intervals, is lowered to a predetermined depth in the ocean and allowed to 

 float with the currents for a number of hours. This method is widely used 

 by the Japanese, but 1^' not used by United States fishemiea at the present 

 time. It is possible that if it becomes necessary for United States fish- 

 ermen to move into the tuna-rich waters of the central Pacific, it will be 

 necessary to turn to this method of fishing, since fish in that i-re?. appear 

 to be more widely scattered than those near the coast, and tc feed at a 

 considerable depth. Aibacore, big-eyed, and ye21owfin, are the principal 

 species taken with this gear. 



Purse Seine s 



The purse seine method is an impcimding device used to enclose schools 

 of fish in a net so that they can be brailed aboard the fiphUig vessel. The 

 purse seine is a large net about 300 fathoms in length, and 30 fathoms deeft 

 costing as much as $30,000, which is carried on the stem of the pu.:5e seiner, 

 a specially-built vessel constructed to operate this type of gear. Upon Ic- 

 cating a school of fish a small seine boat with one end ex the net attached, 

 is let go and the purse seiner circles the school, paying out ths net at the 

 same time. '<Vhen the tvno ends of the net are brought together, a purse line 

 running through metal rings attached to the lead line, is drawn in until the 

 bottom of the net is closed and the fish are trapped. Portions of the net 

 are then taken aboard the vessel until the fish are confined to a small area 

 from which they can be lifted aboc-rd the fishing vessel with a large power- 

 operated dip net or brail. Nearly all the Pacific coast catch of bluefin 

 tuna and bonito is taken with purse seines. In addition, considerable quanti- 

 ties of yellowfin and skipjack tuna and yeliowtail are t?i<en by th'.s gear, 



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