30 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



is attached. 



FiQ. 1 — Nansen Net open, as it 

 descends and as it fishes. 

 Fio. 2 — Nansen Net closed, as it 

 is hauled in after fishing. 

 M, messenger to effect closing ; 

 I, releasing apparatus ; T, throt- 

 tling noose ; C, sailcloth part of 

 net; B, brass bucket containing 

 the catch ; W, weight. 



The method of suspension of bucket and weight is such that 

 neither is supported by the delicate silk. 



The net-ring is connected by three head -ropes 

 to a small ring (fig. .3, t). In addition to this a 

 rope passes round the non-filtering part of the 

 net through brass rings and forms a noose, the 

 function of which is to throttle the net when the 

 rope (fig. 3, th) is pulled. 



The closing mechanism release is of brass. 

 For use it is connected to the line from the boat. 

 This line (fig. 3, line) is attached to it by the 

 screw a (fig. 3). To the other end of the release 

 mechanism are attached both the small ring 

 (fig. 3, t) and the end of the throttling noose 

 (fig. 3, th). The latter is, however, permanently 

 attached, and, in fact, is the only rope securing 

 permanently the net to the closing mechanism 

 and consequently to the lowering rope. The 

 small ring which supports the net mouth is 

 hooked on to the closing mechanism by the 

 movable jaw/ (figs. 3 and 4), which swings on 

 the pivot p. This movable jaw is held closed by 

 a spring-catch at w. When the ring t is hooked 

 on to the releasing mechanism by the jaw j, the 

 net is suspended in such a way that the mouth 

 is horizontal and open. In this position the net 

 is always lowered. The method of using the net 

 is as follows : — The hauling rope is first attached 

 to the releasing mechanism by the screw (i. The 

 net mouth is supported by the small ring which 

 is hooked on to the releasing mechanism by the 

 jaw/. In order to do this the bolt b is pressed 

 down, and then allowed to catch the upper end 

 of the jaw, which it secures, and keeps in position. 



The throttling line is tied securely to the 

 lower end of the releasing mechanism. 



If the net is now held by the hauling rope, it 

 hangs open with the mouth horizontal. To close 

 the net a weight (known usually as a messenger) 

 is allowed to run down the hauling rope. This 



