THE GERMAN CARP IN THE UNITED STATES. 613 
employed. For example, some of the marshes connected with small 
tributaries of the Sandusky River open into the main channel by out- 
lets so definite that any fish which happen to be in the marshes can be 
shut off from the river simply by setting a seine across these outlets. 
As has already been explained (p. 558), on account of the varying direc- 
tion and force of the winds over Lake Erie the water level is almost con- 
stantly changing, affecting also the level of the waters of the bays, rivers, 
and marshes. By experience the fishermen have learned that when the 
current sets up and the water level is rising, the carp work up the streams 
and spread out over the marshes. Conversely, with the fall of the water 
they move out of the marshes again into the deeper waters. 5o careful 
watch is kept of the currents, and shortly after the water has reached 
its highest, and is beginning to go down again, a seine is stretched 
across the outlet from the marsh, as described above. A row of stakes 
is placed in a semicircular line on the downstream side of the seine to 
prevent its being carried away by the force of the outgoing current, 
and the cork-line is made fast to each of these stakes, so that the net 
will not be carried away if the current should change and set upstream 
again. As the water recedes the carp crowd on the upstream side of 
the net in large numbers, and when the fishermen decide that enough 
have come down to justify it, the haul is made. If the current is still 
running out, a second seine is often set immediately in the place of 
the first. The fishermen can get some estimate of the number of carp 
that have gathered above the seine by the number that are seen splash- 
ing, or by running a paddle slowly through the water, when, if there 
are many fish present, they can be felt to bump against the paddle. 
To make the haul, a brail rope is carried across upstream from one 
side to the other, and the net is wound in to one shore in the usual way. 
An outfit for seine fishing, including seine boat, seine, lines, and 
other accessories, represents an outlay of about $150 to $200. In other 
words, a capital of $40 to $50 each is required where the crew consists 
of four men. Some crews, consisting, perhaps, of only two or three 
men, who work on a smaller scale, are probably able to outfit for a 
smaller sum. In some cases the outfit is furnished by a wholesale 
dealer or fishing company, and the fishermen work on a salary or on a 
percentage of the value of the catch. 
The time ordinarily required to make a seine haul and dispose of 
the fish is from one to two hours, though it may vary with conditions, 
and the haul is not considered to have paid unless at least half a ton 
of fish is taken. Asa rule, the fishermen will not make a haul unless 
they think there is a chance of getting a greater amount of carp than 
that. The number of fish which may be taken at one time depends in 
large part upon the season, and the size of single hauls sometimes 
made during the spring months is almost incredible. Upon what 
appeared to be reliable information there were reported to me a num- 
