i^ 



THE 



AQUARIUM 



23 



SfiK 



binding edge of the net where it is 

 attached to the frame unless it is 

 properly made, but that is a simple 

 matter. Brass upholstery rings about 

 three-quarters of an inch in diameter 

 which may be secured at a hardware 

 store, are slipped over the frame at the 

 hinged joint. The net is laced to them 

 by a stout string, threading alternately 

 a ring and a mesh of the net. These 

 rings will stand a great deal of dragging 

 over stony bottoms and protect the net 

 p e r fe c 1 1 y. In 

 selecting the net, 

 a small sized 

 mesh is best for 

 the purpose of 

 the aqua r ist. 

 Eighteen inches 

 across and twen- 

 ty-four inches 

 deep is a good 

 size. The other 

 general method 

 of collecting 

 is with a seine. 

 This is simply 

 a straight strip 

 of netting, 

 having a row of 

 corks along one 

 long edge(upper) 

 and a row of 

 sinkers alongthe 

 lower edge. The ropes forming the 

 binding edges, and on which the corks 

 or floats and the sinkers are fastened, 

 are extended a short distance beyond 

 the net and by which it is dragged. To 

 use the seine two persons are required, 

 though there is a four-foot seine that 

 may be worked by one man. The seine 

 is tied by the lower guide ropes to stiff 

 "Sticks or poles about four or five feet 

 long. Each man takes a pole and pushes 



the net along as near the bottom as 

 possible, using the other hand to manage 

 the cork-line, which should be some- 

 what back of the lower or lead line, but 

 still far enough forward to make a bag 

 of the net. Seining is strictly a wading 

 proposition and can be used with 

 splendid effect where the water is open 

 and the bottom not too stony. It is 

 difficult to work a seine in water more 

 than four feet deep — one to three feet 

 is better. The usual minnow seine, 



DRAWING 



Photograph 



four by twelve 

 feet, is better 

 adapted to the 

 needs of the 

 aquarist, and 

 can be pur- 

 chased at a rea- 

 sonable figure — 

 about two 

 dollars. In finish- 

 ing a haul one 

 man usually 

 stands as a pivot, 

 while his part- 

 ner wheels 

 around with the 

 net and brings it 

 up on the bank. 

 Frequently the 

 hauls are very 

 large and con- 

 tain more speci- 

 mens than are desired. This surplus 

 should be returned to the water and not 

 allowed to die upon the hank. 



The accompanying photograph was 

 taken at a very pleasant outing recently 

 given by the Chicago Fish Fanciers 

 Club in honor of the writer. On this 

 occasion the beautiful red-bellied dace 

 and rain-bow darters were gathered in 

 gratifying numbers. The picture shows 



(Continued on puRe 25.) 



A SEINE 



by Author. 



