FISHING GEAR AND FISHING METHODS 257 



is uneconomical because there were only 9 paranzella nets in operation in 1945 

 as compared with several times that number in the past two decades. 



Beam Trawls. Although the beam trawl is the gear from which the otter trawl 

 was developed, it is rapidly being replaced by the latter gear because of the 

 greater efficiency in handling and fishing. Nevertheless, beam trawls are in use 

 today, though only in small numbers, in the North Pacific and Alaska fisheries. 



Fig. 13-14. Beam trawl and types of iron shoes or runners used. 



This gear consists of a wooden beam about 6 inches square and 20 to 25 feet 

 long, to each end of which is fastened an iron runner. The beam sets about 3 

 feet off the bottom (the height of the runners) . A bag of 1- to 4-inch mesh netting, 

 about 25 feet long and tapering to a narrow pocket, is fastened to the beam and 

 sides of the runners. Bridles, extending 30 to 35 feet in front of the runners, are 

 attached to a single heavy cable, by which means the net or trawl is towed. These 

 nets are operated in much the same manner as other trawls, except that a beam 

 trawl is always set from the stern of the boat. They must be carefully weighted 

 and balanced in order to insure setting on the bottom with the beam up. 



The use of the term 'Tjeam trawler" is often confusing, particularly to a lay- 

 man. It might be taken hterally whenever mentioned in Portland, Oregon, or 

 Seattle, Washington, whereas it would refer to an otter trawler if used in an 

 East Coast port, such as Boston or Gloucester, Massachusetts. Despite the fact 

 that beam trawlers have not been used in the North Atlantic fishery since shortly 

 after the tiirn of the century, the fishermen here continue to use the term when- 

 ever referring to the large steel vessels, of the type which at one time employed the 

 beam-trawl rig. These same fishermen further distinguish the size of a vessel by 

 calling the smaller wooden boat class "draggers" although the gear used is an 

 "otter trawl." 



Gill Nets. There are two general types of gill nets employed in the commercial 

 fisheries: anchor or bottom nets and floating or drifting nets. They are used in 



