762 MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



ilar experiments involving the actual operation of various types of gear, boats, 

 and other equipment. 



Such an effort is particularly necessary because it is often very difficult to deter- 

 mine which fishing methods could be used in the exploitation of fishery resources, 

 regarding which no previous fishing experience exists. Here, existing and well- 

 known fishing operations are relied upon too often. However, most major fishing 

 operations and methods have been worked out through many years of experience 

 and experimentation, and have thereby been specially adapted to whatever local 

 conditions they are carried out under. For instance, both purse seining and trawl- 

 ing operations are used extensively on both the east and west coasts of the United 

 States, but both the gear and methods used differ very considerably. Sardine purse 

 seiners from the Pacific Ocean seem to be of little value if used in the menhaden 

 purse-seining operations oflF the east coast. Similarly, a New England trawler would 

 not be effective if used in the trawling operations for flatfish carried out in the 

 Pacific Ocean. Thus, different conditions require different types of equipment, 

 even if conditions in many respects seem to be very similar. 



New Fishing Methods Needed 



Even greater adaptations will be necessary if fishing operations are to be trans- 

 planted to entirely new regions. Methods and equipment will have to be adapted, 

 not only to the climate, habits of fishes, and conditions of the sea, bottom, etc., 

 but also to the traditions and abilities of the people who carry out the fisheries. 

 The methods which can be used will depend largely on experience in navigation 

 and seamanship, as well as eating and working habits, etc. 



Much experimentation in gear and methods is therefore necessary when new 

 marine resources are to be developed. There is, however, also a great need for 

 such research in countries which already carry out intensive fisheries. It is note- 

 worthy that until recently only httle effort has been made to carry out technologi- 

 cal research in this field. Tank experiments are needed to determine the best 

 shape of the fishing boat, and tests to determine the exact reaction of nets under 

 various conditions. 



Little is known about what actually happens when fish are caught in a net. 

 Underwater films, which are now being planned by the fisheries biologists in sev- 

 eral countries, and direct observations might reveal many unknown factors re- 

 garding the reaction of the fishes to the gear. Such research might result in an 

 alteration in the design of the nets. 



It must also be realized that the fishing methods which are in use at present 

 have, to a very large extent, been developed through gradual adaptations of 

 already known methods; new methods have been tried very little. Today large- 

 scale experiments are being carried out with floating trawls of radically new de- 

 sign, electric fishing devices, etc.; but it is to be expected that much more experi- 

 mentation will be needed in this field in the future. 



It must be kept in mind, however, that any attempt to establish new fishing 

 industries or to increase the existing production depends on the existence of 

 proper outlets for the catch. This is particularly important in areas where fisheries 

 have heretofore been limited. Several development schemes in such regions have 

 been unsuccessful because the effort was concentrated mainly on the increase in 

 production. The local populations, however, were in these cases not used to eat- 



