FISHING NETS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 245 



TheMeshing-Net* In use, this is a fixed (or set) 

 net ; arranged in such a way that the fishes will swim against 

 it, entangling themselves, by their gill-covers, in its meshes. 

 During the mullet-season (early Winter), enormous quan- 

 tities of mature Sea Mullet are captured by means of this 

 net. t Its lawful dimensions are as follows : 



Total length of net not exceeding four hundred fathoms. 



Mesh of net not less than three inches. 



Depth of net not exceeding one hundred meshes. 



In this kind of net there is often no distinct "bunt," 

 the mesh being uniform throughout; in some cases, how- 

 ever, a bunt is formed of three-inch mesh, while the wings 

 are of three-and-a-half-inch or of four-inch. Other modifi- 

 cations are also to be found. 



The Gill-Net is greatly used for the capture of 

 fishes used as bait for Murray Cod, and also for Yellow 

 Belly or Golden Perch and Silver Perch. As will be seen 

 by the following description, it is a very small net: 



Total length of net not exceeding thirty yards (fifteen 

 fathoms). 



Mesh of net not less than four inches. 

 Depth of net not exceeding ten feet. 



This net is usually made from very light (fine) twine. 



The Trammel-Net. This form of net is used but 

 little on our coast at present; though, on account of its 

 general effectiveness, a great extension of its use is war- 

 ranted. Immense numbers of our fishes, many of which 

 cannot be "reached" in other ways, might be captured 

 annually, by a consistent use of the Trammel-Net. As its 

 action in capturing the fishes is but little understood by the 

 average person, the following description, with the accom- 

 panying illustration, will, no doubt, prove acceptable. 



The Trammel-Net is really a combination of three long 

 nets placed side by side and fastened together at the top, 

 bottom and ends. Each of the outer nets is formed of very 



* Usually called " Mashing-Net" by fishermen. 



+ In addition to those captured with the General Hauling-Net. 



