THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 123 



As the beam-trawl can only be used to advantage in the capture of 

 the flat-fish and flounders, what it may take of cod and other fishes con- 

 stituting but a small percentage of its catch, it is not likely that its 

 use will be introduced into the United States uutil these fish assume a 

 greater proportional value. With the great number of more or less de- 

 sirable species of the flat-fishes in our waters there is no doubt that im- 

 mense catches could be made by this means, and the day is probably 

 not very distant when we shall find trawlers at work along Vineyard 

 Sound and off the coast of New York, ISTew Jersey, and the States 

 farther south. Here there are thousands of square miles of sea-bottom 

 admirably adapted to its use, where a rich harvest awaits its introduc- 

 tion. 



Weirs and pounds. — The various forms of this most wholesale mode 

 of taking fish will be found fully figured and described in the first re- 

 port of the U. S. Fish Commission. I may, however, briefly recapitu- 

 late some of tbe more prominent varieties. These are, the floating Ira]) 

 or madrague, the heart-net or pound, the stake-net, and the weir in its 

 various forms. 



These all depend upon the movement of the fish in bands, and are 

 sometimes worked in deep water, in which the apparatus is constantly 

 immersed, sometimes depending upon the retention of the fish which 

 come in at high water until the water runs out, leaving the fish high and 

 dry, or else 'concentrated in small inclosed pools. 



The Seconnet (Khode Island) traps consist in a succession of inclos- 

 ures held by anchors, and are similar in general character to the 

 madrague of the Mediterranean. While in America the nets scarcely 

 take anything else butscup, sea bass, tautog, and similar fish, those of the 

 Mediterranean are especially used for the capture of tunnies or horse- 

 mackerel. A corresponding difference in the size of the net and in the 

 thickness o»f the netting is to be found. The heart-nets, or pounds 

 proper, are principally in use in Vineyard Sound and Buzzard's Bay. 

 In these a wall of netting supported upon stakes extends perpendicu- 

 larly from the shore and ends in a heart-shaped apartment, the pointed 

 end of which passes into what is called the bowl. The fish, in their 

 movements along the coast, come to the wall of netting and are ar- 

 rested and turned seaward. Their course along the line of netting 

 brings them to the main incloeure, which is so constructed that in cir- 

 cling round in schools they cannot readily find their way out, owing to 

 their indisposition to turn an abrupt corner. Their only escape is into 

 the bowl, which constitutes a second apartment having a bottom of 

 netting. Here they remain until the fishermen come on the scene, and 

 closing up the narrow entrance to the bowl secure whatever it may con- 

 tain. They proceed to lift the netting of the bowl in which are the liv- 

 ing fish, and throwing away the refuse, the desirable varieties are put 

 in a boat or smack, or else placed in what is called a pocket, another in- 

 closure, in which they can be kept until marketed. Of this apparatus 

 there are many varieties. 



