FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 9 



them on the ground that the experiment had fully demonstrated the 

 commercial value of planes in this fishery. This first thorough test 

 of aviation as an adjunct to the commercial fisheries has proved of 

 great benefit to the industry, and the purchase of planes by the fishing 

 companies is being seriously considered. 



In December, 1919, as a result of arrangements between the naval 

 authorities, the fishing interests, and the State commission, naval 

 seaplanes were given trials at San Diego, Calif., for spotting schools 

 of fish. They are reported to have been of some value in locating 

 schools of sardines, but their usefulness in locating albacore, tuna, and 

 yellowtail remains to be more definitely established. In the summer 

 of 1920 a hydroairplane was operated for a time at San Pedro, but 

 was not entirely successful. A dirigible trip was also made at San 

 Diego by an official of the State commission for the same purpose. 

 The aviation service of the United States Coast Guard, Treasury 

 Department, has shown an interest in the utility of fish spotting in 

 connection ^vnth its air patrol and training, and the Bureau of P'ish- 

 eries is endeavoring to eil'ect cooperation between the aviation station 

 of that service at Morehead City, N. C, and the fishermen of that 

 region. 



The work done has yielded results of value, but should be continued 

 for the purpose of ascertaining the value of aircraft in other fisheries, 

 such as mackerel, bluefish, tuna, and herring. 



NEW ENGLAND FISHERY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. 



In the summer of 1920 the Bureau investigated the possibilities of 

 securing; useful information daily from keepers of certain lightships 

 and lighthouses as to the presence of schooling fish, such as mackerel 

 and pollock. Through the courtesy of the Director of Naval Commu- 

 nications and the Commissioner of Lighthouses, the Bureau of Fish- 

 eries made arrangements ^o have the occurrence of such fishes 

 reported by the keepers of Pollock Rip, Nantucket Shoals, and Fire 

 Island lightships. This service was mitiated about November 1. 

 1920, messages reporting any observations made during the preceding 

 24 hours bein^ sent by radio at noon daily from these vessels to shore 

 stations and forwarded to the Bureau's agent at Boston for dissemi- 

 nation and transmittal to agents in Gloucester and Portland. It was 

 appreciated that the service was being established near the close of the 

 season, but it was desired to have it in efficient working order on the 

 resumption of more active fi.shing in the spring. If the service proves 

 of value it is planned to increase the number of stations from which 

 reports are received. 



NOTES ON FISHING GEAR. 



The following descriptions of fishing gear employed in the Califor- 

 nia fi.sh cries have been furnished by R. A. Coleman, agent, Bureau of 

 Fisheries. The use of the paranzella and lampara nets in American 

 waters is practically restricted to southern California. 



PARANZELLA NET. 



The [)aianz('lla is the net chiefly used in deep water and bottom 

 fishing on the California cf)ast, especially by the large fisliing com- 

 panies operating with steam and power boats. This type of lul (I he 



