REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXV 



lij^ure and diagram illastrating tlie construction of tliese two forms of 

 apparatus, as also in the special article on modes of capturing fisli. 



The pounds and weirs are adapted not only for taking, but many of 

 ti'em for retaining, the fish until it is convenient to remove them, need- 

 ing no watching to prevent their escape. These are of various con- 

 struction, depending upon the depth of the water, the tide, the nature 

 of the shore, the kind of fish to be taken, &c. The most common form 

 on the south side of New England consists of a fence of netting, ex- 

 tending froin'the shore, and uearl^" perpendicular to it, for a distance of 

 50 or 100 fathoms or more, as the circumstances may require. The 

 outer end of this straight fence or wall is carried into a heart-shaped 

 fence of netting, the apex of which is connected with a circular "bowl'' 

 of net-work, the bottom of which lies npon the ground, at a depth of 

 20 to 30 feet. The fish, in their movement along the coast, first strike 

 against the fence of netting and are directed outward, following the 

 fence or "leader" along until they reach the end, -which, of course^ 

 brings them within the " heart." Here they wander around for a time, 

 their only easy avenue for escape being through the apex into the 

 " bowl," and in which when entered they continually circle about with- 

 out ever finding the outlet. It is a peculiarity of fishes in their move- 

 ments, especially when in schools, that they do not turn a sharp corner, 

 but move around in curves; and the nets in question are so arranged 

 that the curves they are likely to take never bring them toward an 

 avenue of escape, but rather tend to conduct them farther within. 



The "weirs " differ from the " i^ounds " principally in being constructed, 

 in whole or in part, of brush or of narrow boards, with or without net- 

 ting; and they are sometimes so arranged that at low tide a sandbar 

 cuts off the escape of the fish, leaving them in^ a basin inside, allowing 

 them to be taken at any time before a certain stage of rise of the next 

 tide. The variety of these modes of capture is very great, and I have 

 given in the appendix a description of the forms best known, accom- 

 l)anied by the figures necessary for their illustration, and to these would 

 refer for further information.* 



* On the map accompanying this report I have marked the traps and ponnds in 

 operation in 1871, on the south side of New Enj^land, east of Point Judith, as far as I 

 Avas able to ascertain their existence. Information concern ing those in Rhode Island -was 

 furnished by J. M. K. Southwick. Notices of those farther east Avere, for the most 

 ])art, supplied by Captain Edwards, supplemented by my own observations. To 

 Captain Prince Crowell I am indebted for a list of the weirs in Cape Cod Bay, repre- 

 sented on a separate map. I also give a separate sketch of Seacounet Point, showing 

 the peculiarities of arrangement of the traps in that region. 



According to Mr. Southwick, there were in Narragansett Bay, in 1871, twenty 

 pound or heart nets, of Avhich the map represents eight on Conanicut Island, 

 and eight on Rhode Island. There were sixteen traps — seven on Rhode Island and 

 nine at Seaconnet Point. Seven of the latter indeed are double, each counting as 

 two, making twenty-three, or a total of forty-three. But few of these were fished 

 after the middle of June. 



In Buzzard's Bay and on the Elizabeth Islands the pounds were as follows : One at 



