COLLECTING HEX. IN THE SAGAMI SEA. 19 



of tlie 2^ull iu hauling in, so tliat there undeniably exists no small 

 chance for some of the numerous hooks to get hold of the lost 

 line, as \Yell as of the objects lying passively on the bottom over 

 which it passes. 



Under certain circumstances, the dabo-liue is laid out in a 

 circle or at any rate in such a way as to bring the two ends 

 near to each other. When so laid, the line can be hauled in 

 from both ends at once by the same boat, thus saving much 

 time. This method is therefore resorted to late in the after- 

 noon or when there is a prospect of unfavorable weather. 



Still another way of fishing with the dabo-line requires to 

 be specially mentioned. One of the crew handles the sweep, 

 while each of the others lets out, not all at the same time but 

 in succession one after another so as to avoid entangling, only 

 about a single basketful of the dabo-liue with the requisite 

 number of sinkers. A greater length of the line would prove 

 too heavy for one man to manage. One end of each of these 

 lines is free, while to the other is attached a hand-line of suitable 

 length. After the last man has paid out his line, the boat is 

 still rowed on for some time, so that the several trailing dabo- 

 lines, each handled by a man on board, are slowly pulled along 

 the bottom. There is one obvious advantage in this system in- 

 asmuch as it involves but little risk of losing any extensive 

 amount of the line at any one time. 



When the dabo-line is to be hauled in, a thick bamboo is 

 rigged alongside the boat. Over its smooth surface the cordage 

 slides as the latter is tugged iu. The process involves from three 

 to four hours of hard and incessant work for three men, with 

 two others iu reserve to change hands. The introduction of a 

 suitably constructed windlass would materially lighten this labor. 



