162 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [62] 



destroying the frustrum shape of the seine. If this were not done the 

 tish might escape at the side as well as at the bottom.* 



When the seine is pursed up it is iu the form of a bag, the bottom of 

 which does not hang freely, for it is bent upward, having been drawn up 

 by the purse-line near the side of the boat and during the operation of 

 pursing up the boat is pulled nearly into the center of the circle made 

 by the corks on the upper edge of the seine. Occasionally, when there 

 is a current, the boat is brought up against the corks in the bunt of the 

 seine. The object is now to get the fish, if they have any, into such close 

 quarters that they may be taken on deck. To this end the larger part 

 of the seine must be pulled into the seine-boat, and this operation, called 

 "drying up," now begins. The seine is taken up entirely if there be 

 no fish, partly if the school has not escaped, and the net is so drawn 

 up that the "bailing-piece" will inclose the fish at last. The position of 

 this part of the seine being marked by the central cork, already spoken 

 of iu the description of the seine, it is of course not difficult to bring it 

 around the fish. The experienced fishermen can also quickly tell, either 

 night or day, when the bunt of the seine is reached iu the process of dry- 

 ing up, since the difference in the size of the twine of which the bailing- 

 piece is made and that of the other parts of the net is readily detected. 



If any fish have been caught, especially if the school is large, the 

 dory, with the skipper and three or four men, go to the vessel to help 

 the cook, who is the only man on board, to bring her alongside of the 

 seine-boat. If the school is very large the dory is rowed to the vessel 



* It should be stated that the large purse-weight is at present seldom used. The 

 tide is rarely so strong as to make it useful, and even then the process of " reeving" is 

 likely to be so tedious as to make the loss of time more than balance the gain through 

 its use. According to Capt. Joseph Smith the majority of the mackerel seiners now 

 use two purse-weights, each of 75 or 100 pounds weight, instead of the old-fashioned 

 *' Long Tom," which usually exceeded 300 pounds. The two weights above mentioned, 

 being so much lighter than those formerly employed, can be handled by one man, and 

 rove on the purse-line very much quicker than ^^ ^^^ heavier, or "double weight," as 

 it is called, was used. These small purse-weights are provided with one block, and 

 each weight has a line attached of sulBcient length to reach the bottom of the seine. 

 The time occupied in reeving them on the purse-line rarely exceeds fifteen or twenty 

 seccwids. One of the purse-weights is most commonly used on the " boat end," or the 

 end of the seine last thrown out, for the reason that this part of the net has not usu- 

 ally time to sink down to its full extent before the pursing begins. A weight is more 

 rarely used on the end of the seine which is first thrown out, and, consequently, has 

 had time to sink to its extreme depth ; though sometimes, on account of the current, 

 or for some other reason, it may be found necessary to iiut the purse-weight upon this 

 end, as well as upon the other. In using one large weight, as formerly, it would be 

 necessary, of course, to always put it on both ends of the purse-line of the seine, but 

 in having two weights one can be attached and run down on either end of the purse- 

 line as required. That sinks it and keeps the net deep, and if both ends "purse high " 

 a weight should be put on each end. The ends of the purse-line, when the weights 

 have been run down, in the manner above stated, will stand out from each other, 

 something in the form of the letter A, both parts coming nearly together at the purse- 

 davit and being separated several fathoms at the lower part of the net, as the first 

 purse-rings are attached about 15 fathoms from the ends of the seine. 



