314 FISHES AND FISHING 



means of a suitable trawl or dredge (see Chapter IX.), 

 or by long lines. Various forms of fish trap have been 

 tried for fishing under such circumstances, but we are 

 unaware of any such implement suitable for use by 

 any vessel which does not carry a special equipment 

 for deep-sea exploration. 



Habits of Fishes. 



From the nature of their haunts it is not always easy 

 to observe the habits of fishes in a wild state, but such 

 matters as the nature of their food (ascertained by 

 examination of the contents of their bellies), breeding 

 season (tested by the development of roe or milt), and 

 seasonal movements (as shown by their presence or 

 absence in a particular locality at different times of 

 year), should ordinarily be susceptible of ascertain- 

 ment. 



Other matters as to which information may some- 

 times be obtained are the nature of their haunts, 

 whether at the surface or the bottom, on mud, sand, 

 gravel, or rough ground, or among coral or rocks ; 

 the depth at which they are ordinarily found ; and their 

 predilection for salt, brackish, hot, cold, clean, or 

 turbid water. At times such observations may neces- 

 sitate the use of special gear (closing tow nets), the 

 taking of temperatures, or the testing of the salinity of 

 any particular part of the sea ; but the necessary 

 information may often be obtained by the use of 

 simple sounding apparatus or even by ocular observa- 

 tion, while the statements of fishermen on such subjects 

 are often both precise and accurate. 



In places where the usual commercial fisheries are 

 confined to in-shore waters, and especially where their 

 main object is to supply a local market, seasonal 



