American Fisheries Society 279 



second net with the other boat. The tug then immediately 

 circles back to the first boat, picks up this and tows it to 

 the third net, continuing until the nets are all lifted, when 

 the tug returns to the market with the day's catch of fish. 



As the lifting boats described above are much smaller 

 than the old style pound boat, are more easily and quickly 

 handled around the net and are towed from one net to the 

 other with the tug running at full speed, the men all work- 

 ing with the object of getting the nets lifted and the fish 

 back to the packing house in the least possible time, it will 

 be seen that the spawner has but a limited amount of time 

 in which to do his work. He has also but small quarters 

 in which to do it, and when it is remembered that he must 

 overhaul the fish, select the ripe ones, secure the eggs, 

 fertilize and care for them, and at the same time keep the 

 eggs, spawn tools and himself out of the way of the fisher- 

 men, in order not to delay their work, it will be seen that 

 even under these conditions, which are about the best that 

 exist to day, the spawner has to work under difficulties. 

 Especially is this true in rough weather, which we are likely 

 to have during a great part of the spring and fall spawn- 

 ing seasons. 



The above treats only of collecting eggs from fish caught 

 in pound nets and under the more favorable conditions. 

 At the present time but a very small part of the fish are 

 taken in pound nets. The net most used is called a trap 

 net, the general plan of which is much like the pound net, 

 having a leader and hearts, tunnel and pot, but the crib 

 or that part that holds the fish is much smaller, is entirely 

 submerged and is held in place by anchors, no stakes being 

 used. When raised it is hauled up on the stern of the boat 

 and an opening made by unlacing the top, through which 

 the fish are removed by the use of a long-handled scoop net. 

 In order to handle this kind of net more easily and 

 quickly, much smaller boats are used than in handling the 

 pound net. These boats range from sixteen to twenty-two 

 feet long and from four to six feet wide, so that the spawner 



