208 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



lock bark is not used), which are boiled together until it is sufficiently 

 strong, when the bark is removed, and tar added in the proportion of 

 live gallons of tar to two hundred gallons of tan, the whole being stirred 

 well together. Some care is necessary in applying this, or else it will 

 not be evenly distributed on the net. The custom of mixing tan and 

 tar has doubtless been introduced from England, as it is known that 

 the Cornish fishermen do this, pouring out their tanning liquor into 

 large vats with coal-tar, an<l this mixture is found to ])reserve the nets 

 much longer than simple tanning. The Newfoundland nets, when pre- 

 pared in this manner, generally last about 4 seasons. 



The tloats are made of the best bottle-cork, when obtainable. Before 

 being used they are dipj>ed in hot pitch or tar, after which it is said 

 they will stand for 4 weeks at the bottom in 50 fathoms before getting 

 water-soaked. The lishermen have two sets of tloats— one, w hen soaked, 

 being replaced by the other. 



The sinkers most generally in use by the Newfoundland lishermen are 

 made by tying small rocks in a bag of old netting or cloth ; but lead 

 sinkers, similar to those on seines, are occasionally attached to the nets. 

 The sinkers weigh from L to 2 i)ounds, are about 13 feet apart, and are 

 fastened close to the bottom of the net. 



Anchors, ro6ks, and stone killicks are used for moorings to the nets. 

 The former weigh from 20 to 25 ])oun(ls each, while the killicks and 

 rocks vary from 25 to 60 i)oun(ls, the heavier heading the current, and 

 the lighter being on the opposite end of the net or gang. 



The buoys are generally made oi" dry fir poles, (I to 8 inches in diame- 

 ter, which are usually from 3 to 4 feet long, and sharpened at one end, 

 through which is a. hole for the straj) whi(;h the biu)y-line bends to. Kegs 

 are also used for l)uoys, 



3.— American METnoDS. 



The nets that were ilrst tried in Ipswich Bay were made of twine 

 about the same size as that used in Norway ; indeed, part of them were 

 Norwegian nets which had been. lent to ('apt. George. H. Martin by the 

 United States Fish Commission. These were found, as in the previous 

 trials made by the Commission, entirely too weak for the pur[)Ose, and 

 were soon badly torn, not, however, before it had been proved that suit- 

 able nets could be very successfully used. The nets which have since 

 been constructed for this fishery are made of Scotch tlax twine, twelve- 

 thread, of the size represented in Plate IV. The twine is very strong, 

 and is found to be well adapted for the capture of large cod. The nets 

 are mostly l>-inch mesh (44 inches square), that size havingbeen foniul 

 well adapted tor taking the large cod that visit our c(fast in winter. 



The size of the nets dei)eiids somewhat on the locality where they 

 are used, and also on the movements or habits of the fish. In some 

 places where th(^. cod keep close to tlu! bottom, long shallow nets are 

 ])robably the most snitai)le, w iiilo at othei- points, as at the Lofiodeii 



