758 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



are as useful and as strong as new nets. But the most important qual- 

 ity of oiled nets is this, that the meshes open better, and that conse- 

 quently they catch the fish better, for the herring is caught by passing 

 its head so far into the meshes that it hangs fast by its gill-fins. 



As a sort of excuse for the failures of 1875 it was said that the factory 

 which had done the tanning had used gamboge instead of catechu, in 

 order not to tan the nets too strongly, which, however, had had the con- 

 sequence of giving the nets a lighter color, making them more visible 

 to the fish in bright nights. Even if both of these assertions were cor- 

 rect this would not prove the advisability of omitting the soaking in 

 linseed-oil. 



The whole series of nets must be imagined as a wall fully G,000 feet 

 long and 48 feet high, representing, therefore, a flat area measuring 

 300,000 square feet. It is kept in the water in a perpendicular position 

 by having pieces of cork on the upper and pieces of lead or stone on 

 the lower edge. The nets are fastened one behind the other by hemp 

 lines to an inch-rope called the speerreep. On this speerreep there 

 are also fastened the so-called " seisings," strong lines about 42 feet long, 

 which at a distance of about 42 feet are fastened to the fleethreep, a 

 rope of the thickness of an arm. At the end of the seisings the 

 buoys are fastened which keep the fleethreep floating at a depth of 

 about 18 feet. The fleethreep extends far beyond the first net and 

 connects the vessel with the nets. The upper edge of the nets is there- 

 fore fully 40 feet below the water, while the lower edge is 90 feet below. 

 The whole "series" consists of sixty-five nets, and as each net has 

 210,000 meshes, we get the considerable number of 14,040,000 meshes 

 for the whole " series." Besides these, each vessel has sixty-five reserve 

 nets, so she can start with fresh nets 2-3 days after having reached the 

 port. If everything is in order a vessel sometimes catches in one night 

 100-120 barrels, i. e., 70-80,000 herrings. It is no rare occurrence that a 

 "logger" catches a I'ullcargo (280-340 barrels) in 10-12 succeeding nights. 

 Although, therefore, the expenses of fitting out a herring-fleet are con- 

 siderable, there is a good chance of making fine profits. The amount 

 of these profits depends, besides on good luck, on the skill and assi- 

 duity of the crew. The managers on shore can, especially when they 

 have sufficient funds at their command, save many a dollar by prudent 

 management, but their influence does not reach as far as the actual 

 catching of the fish. 



The most important point is, under all circumstances, the treatment 

 of the nets, and this should be done according to certain well-defined 

 rules. Experience has taught that it is best for the success of the fish- 

 erics if not more than one-third of the nets has to be renewed in one year. 

 One may be contented if no more are lost by tearing or by a total loss 

 in stormy weather. If we count the total number of nets required for 

 the Emden fisheries 65 x 11 X 2=1,430, we would consider 450-500 nets 

 as about the average number needed annually. Experiments made on 



