HISTOEY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 119 



diameter. There is no load-line, properly speaking, though light weights 

 are placed upon the bottom line of the seine, near the ends, about 2 ounces 

 in weight, about 60 pounds in all, four inches apart at the sides, and far- 

 ther apart near the middle. Sometimes twelve rings are strung close 

 together so that they touch. The rings through which the pursing rope 

 passes are almost heavy enough to render other weights unnecessary. 

 The lower edge of the seine is hung on six-thread manilla rope ,• to this is 

 attached a series of so-called bridles, these bridles being 3 fathoms in 

 length and placed 3 fathoms apart. Upon each of these bridles slides an 

 iron ring weighing 1^ to 2-^ pounds and 3^ inches in diameter; through 

 these rings runs the purse-line. The average weight thus placed upon 

 the bottom of the mackerel-seine is about 220 pounds ; this, however, 

 inclndes special leads put on at the ends of the seine, 65 to SO pounds of 

 lead being thus distributed in leads of one-eighth to one-quarter to one- 

 sixth of a pound in weight. Upon the menhaden-seine about 35 pounds 

 of lead is considered sufficient. In operating this seine a large heavy 

 weight, called by the fishermen of Gloucester a i)urse-weight, by those of 

 Southern New England '' Long Tom," is used, which is placed upon the 

 vertical ropes at the end of the seine by the use of snatch-blocks, and 

 is allowed to run down to the bottom of these ropes, thus fastening 

 securely together the ends of the so-called lead-line before the operation 

 of pursing begins. The mackerel-seine is usually arranged so that when 

 it is pursed there are large triangular flaps of netting hanging at the 

 end and closing the opening. This is accomplished by allowing the 

 purse-lines to pass obliquely from the last purse-rings, which are placed 

 at the distance of about six feet from the ends of the lead line. In 

 mackerel-seining these are not, by all fishermen, considered necessary, 

 as the mackerel do not, like the menhaden, strike for the bottom of the 

 net when they find themselves inclosed. This weight weighs from GO 

 to 120 pounds, and varies somewhat in shape ; the usual form is figured 

 in plate XIV. Some seiners now use two smaller weights, one upon 

 each line. The best fishermen prefer to use the weight, and by this 

 method the largest fares of fish are taken. 



The seines used by the menhaden vessels are smaller than mackerel 

 seines, although the latter are frequently used in this fishery, especially 

 near Gloucester. 



From the letters of our correspondents it appears that the length of 

 menhaden seines varies from 100 to 300 fathoms, and their depth from 

 10 to 25 fathoms. Some seines, 50 fathoms long and 5 fathoms deep, are 

 mentioned, but these must have been exceptionally small. 



In early days, it is said, a mesh of 4i inches was used. In 1873 

 Maine fishermen preferred a mesh of 3^ inches. From 1875 to 1877 a 

 still smaller mesh was employed. The seines now in use in Connecticut 

 have a mesh of 2J inches (that is, 1^ inches square, or 1^ "bar"') 5 they 

 are 130 fathoms long when "hung," or 200 fathoms "straight twine" or 

 stretch&d as they leave the factory, and 15 fathoms deep. They are made 



