202 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



There are two geueral methods of hanging the drift nets, viz, the 

 "single line" and the "double line." In the former the lower jiortion 

 of the net is permitted to swing freely, having no bottom line and not 

 being weighted. The mesh in these is generally 5i or 5^ inch. The 

 second form of nets, known as "double line," is operated mostly on the 

 shoals, and consequently is usually longer and shallower. In these nets 

 a line extends the entire length of the bottom, to which leaden weights 

 are attached, serving to hold the net in a somewhat rigid position, and 

 the mesh is usually 5-inch. The reason for the differeuce in the size of 

 the mesh in the "single-line" and "double-line" nets is that the bottom 

 of the former, swinging clear and free, readily yields to every motion of 

 the lish enmeshed therein and the fish soon becomes wound up and 

 entangled in the meshes, being unable to either withdraw or force its 

 way through the net; while the latter, being in a somewhat unyield- 

 ing position in the water, due to the weighted bottom line, is not easily 

 entangled, and the mesh must be sufSciently small to hold the fish 

 firmly. The "single-line" nets are usually from 50 to 90 meshes deep 

 and the "double-line" nets from 30 to 60 meshes in depth. The former 

 are drifted mostly during slack water, and consequently remain in the 

 water usually only two or three hours at a time. The latter are oper- 

 ated on both tides, and may remain in the water a half day or longer. 

 An ordinary gill net, full-rigged, costs $100 to $125; after being used 

 one season its value is reduced one-half, and three seasons' work usually 

 renders it unfit for further use. The season begins about the last week 

 in March and ends about the middle of June. The yield in 1896 was 

 unusually small, only 50 or 60 per cent of that obtained in 1895. The 

 yield by the 118 boats from the Virginia shore numbered 85,440 roes 

 and 56,960 bucks, a total of 142,400, while the Maryland fishermen 

 obtained 136,880, of which 82,128 were roes and 54,752 buck shad. The 

 price received by the fishermen was also low, averaging between $8 and 

 $8.50 per hundred. 



The stake-net fishery of Potomac River is of little importance, con- 

 sisting of a few strings of nets operated in the lower half of the river 

 by residents of Virginia. The total number used in 1896 was 529, set 

 in 9 strings, requiring the services of 21 men who employed 12 boats, 

 worth $935. The catch was quite small, numbering only 6,746 roe shad 

 and 4,764 bucks, worth $1,616. 



The pound-net fishery is confined almost entirely to the lower half of 

 the river, the nets set for shad above Maryland Point being few in 

 number and cheaply constructed. Pound nets were introduced about 

 1875, and since then they have constantly increased in favor. In 1889 

 there were 330 pound nets; in 1890, 37(5; in 1891, 411, and in 1896, 430. 

 Of those used in 1896, 299 were operated by Virginians and 131 by 

 residents of Maryland. The former, however, are much larger and 

 catch many more shad than those on the Maryland side of the river, 

 the Virginia nets being most numerous near the mouth, while most of 

 the Maryland nets are between JSanjemoy Point and Ulakistone Island. 



