FISHING GEAR AND FISHING METHODS 



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are used in the coastal fisheries. The salmon fisheries in the rivers of the Northwest 

 employ haul seines ranging from 500 to 800 yards in length and have a bag or 

 pocket about 100 yards long. 



(Courtesy R. J. Ederer Co.) 



Fig. 13-8. Alaska beach seine. Nets are set from shallow draft boats around the fish 

 and hauled manually to the shore. Cannery transport stands by to receive fish. 



Lampara Nets. These nets, often referred to as "bait nets," apparently originated 

 in Italy and were introduced into California about 1900 by immigrant fishermen. 

 However, these nets have never been adopted in any other area of the United 

 States. 



They are constructed somewhat on the principle of a haul seine, except that 

 the lead line is shorter than the cork line. This creates a bag in the back of the 

 net for the collection of the fish. A lampara net is always hauled into a boat, and 

 fishing is usually conducted in shallow water as it is desirable that the lead line 

 be on or close to the bottom. It can be operated in deep water, however. 



Lampara nets vary in size from 25 to 50 fathoms in length and 6 to 20 fathoms 

 in depth. With the development of the tuna fisheries off the coast of Lower 

 California, Mexico, and Costa Rica, these "bait nets," as they are most commonly 

 called, are used by tuna boats and have been adapted to the areas where bait is 

 abundant. The two popular types, representing the extremes in size, are known 

 as "Galapagos" and "Anchovete" nets. 



Lamparas are laid in a circle around the fish and pulled into the boat from 

 both ends. The two ends, known as the wings, are of coarse mesh, 3 to 5 inches, 

 so that they can be pulled in easily. The central portion, or bag, is of /4- to 1-inch 

 mesh and shaped like a scoop, the open end of which is pulled under the fish and 

 then lifted out of the water. As the wings are pulled into the boat and the circle 

 becomes elongated, the wings herd the fish into the bag and the lead lines come 

 together, preventing the fish from diving as so often happens in purse-seine opera- 

 tions. 



