EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [58] 



When looking out for mackerel the seines are generally stowed in the 

 seine-boats upon the platform arranged for that purpose between the two 

 after thwarts. The cork-lines are stowed aft and the lead-lines forward, 

 the seine always being set from the starboard side of the boat. 



As has been stated, the small seine differs from the large seine only in 

 its size, being from 100 to 175 fathoms in length and 10 to 12 fathoms in 

 depth. These seines are used in shallow water, and those vessels which 

 have gone to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for the purpose of catching 

 mackerel by this method have generally carried them. 



Many of the large schooners carry two seines whether they have two 

 seine-boats or not, since the deep seine cannot be used on rocky bottom 

 in shallow water. 



The seine is always passed from the boat to the vessel and vice versa 

 over the roller upon the port side, which has already been described. 

 To transfer the seine from the vessel to the boat requires five or more 

 men. The operation can be performed in from fifteen to thirty minutes. 

 To haul the wet seine from the boat to the vessel is a somewhat labori- 

 ous task, but as less care is required than in stowing it in the boat, less 

 time is usually needed to perform this operation. 



(c) Bait. — Mackerel seiners usually carry a small supply of bait for 

 the purpose of tolling the fish to the surface and, incidentally, of catch- 

 ing fish with the jigs when they are not schooling. Sometimes they toll 

 the school along side and spread the seine around the vessel, and as 

 she drifts over the cork-rope and away to leeward the net is pursed up 



Merchant adds : " We use the left-laid rope for loops and the right for the sinkers. 

 The loops are formed by separating the ropes at what are called the 'bridle hitches.' 

 Only one ring is attached to a loop." The net has attached to it, when completed, 

 800 No. 1 corks, 1,200 No. 2 corks. The No. 1 corks, which are the largest, are placed 

 in pairs in the center of the bunt of the seine, a ■ a distance of 10 inches between the 

 pairs. The " middle cork," however, is made of three, joined together and covered 

 with canvas. This is for (he purpose of determining the center of the seine when it 

 is being overhauled. Tbe No. 2 corks are secured to the upper part of the seine upon 

 the wings and arms, being placed 15 inches apart. From G5 to 75 pounds of lead sink- 

 ers, which weigh from 2-J to 4 ounces each, are placed at the bottom of the seine. 

 None of these are put in the bunt, but are scattered along the foot of the wings and 

 arms, being nearest together close to the ends of the net. The rings used at present 

 are made of galvanized 1-iuch iron, and weigh about 2-J- pounds each ; with the sinker- 

 leads they make about 1G0 pounds weight attached to the bottom of the seine. One 

 and three-fourth inch hemp rope is used for the purse-line, the length of this being 

 generally about 25 fathoms more than that of the seine. In banging the seine it is 

 "taken up" at tbe ends, so that one end is 7 fathoms deep while the other is only 1 

 fathom deep, though the middle of the net will go down 125 feet. The first or deep- 

 est end is called the " dory end "or " outer end," and the other is known as the " boat 

 end" or "inner end." As will readily be understood by reference to the preceding 

 dimensions of the purse-seine, the difference in the depth of the several sections of 

 the net, when hung, is due solely to the " taking up " in the process of hanging it, 

 since the webbing is of the same depth throughout. The purse-seines, like many 

 other things, are being improved. Those we are making now [for the mackerel fish- 

 ery] are much lighter than we have been making them in former years, and can be 

 haudled with greater ease and rapidity. 



