ANIMAL RESOURCES AND FISHERIES OF UNITED STATES. 123 



Heshing-nets (entangling in meshes). 

 Gill-nets used in the Great Lakes. 



two meshes in depth, 3| to 5 inch mesh. The nets when hung or mounted 

 for use contain from one to three pounds of webbing, and range in length 

 from 60 to 120 yards, and in depth from 4J to 6 feet. They are set in 

 gangs of from three to live nets, and three to five gangs are laid out in 

 one setting usually by aid of sailboats or steamers. (See models of Macki- 

 naw boat and lake gill-net steamer. ) 



For floating the upper line, round or octagonal floats of bark, or wooden 

 pickets about two and one-half feet in length, are used. Sinkers are of 

 lead or stone. The nets are set in from 20 to 100 fathoms of water, the 

 lead-line resting upon the bottom. They are taken out once a week and 

 dried. 



They are used principally for the capture of the whitefish (Coregonu* 

 albus, <fe.), and the lake trout (Salmonamaycush), though most of the com- 

 mon lake fishes are taken in these meshes. Sea-Island cotton (3, 4, 5, and 

 6 thread) is being largely substituted for linen in their manufacture. 



The weight of the twine preferred by fishermen varies in different locali- 

 ties , that used in Green Bay being the finest, that in Lake Erie next, 

 then Lakes Michigan and Superior, and heaviest in Lake Huron. Lake 

 Ontario consumes about 5,000 pounds of netting annually, Erie 7,500, 

 Huron 6,000, Michigan 20,000, Green Bay 2,500, and Lake Superior 5,000. 

 The aggregate length of this netting is probably about 4,575,000 yards. 



Sisco and herring gill-nets. 



Used in the Groat Lakes in the capture of the sisco (Salmo siscowet) and the 

 lake herring (Argyrosomus cktpctfbrmu'). 



* These nets are hung and set like the whitefish-nets previously described. 

 They are knit from linen thread (35-60, ^-cord) 30 to 40 meshes in depth, 

 and 2 to 3 inch mesh. About 2.500 pounds are annually consumed, chiefly 

 about Sacket's Harbor, N. Y., and Lakes Huron and Michigan. (E. B. 

 French.) 



Anchored gill-nets. 



Used on the coast from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras in the capture of the blue- 

 iish (Pomatomus saltatrix). 



* These nets are knit from cotton twines (12-18 thread. - patent), and are 

 75 to 100 fathoms in length, and 80 to 200 meshes in depth, from 4| to 6 

 inch mesh. They are heavily leaded and anchored with lead-line on the 

 bottom, off-shore, in from 10 to 20 fathoms of water. They are chiefly 

 used by New York fishing vessels ; probably 1,000 or more are in use on the 

 coast. In the winter season the fishing vessels follow the bluefish as far 

 south as Cape Hatteras. (E. B. French.) 



Hook or trap gill-nets. 



Used on the coast of New Jersey in the capture of the Spanish mackerel 

 (Cybitim maculatum), &c. 



* These nets are peculiar in shape. They are straight nets, anchored in 

 the form of an L with a hook-like continuation, heavily leaded, and with 

 anchors at the angles. They are knit from cotton twines (9-12 thread. \ 

 patent), the outer end being of finer twine. Their length is about 100 

 fathoms, depth 75-100 meshes, 3f to 4 inch mesh. About 100 of these are 

 in use on the coast, mostly between Sandy Hook and Barnegat Light. (E. 

 B. French.) 



* The nets belonging to this series are enumerated below, among Nos. 26848-26880. 



