527 



tug load of fish is secured at one haul. This net could only be used on 

 smooth, sandy bottom free from coral, and employed chiefly to catch 

 flatfish, flounders, etc. 



Pound nets. — Many kinds of pound nets are used in the American 

 fisheries, but as this manner of fishing is well known and used in the 

 Philippines in the various forms of coiTals or badods no descriptions 

 are necessary. Notwithstanding the expense of building, it is one of 

 the most successful methods of fishing as is attested by the hundreds of 

 coiTals in the Islands. 



Fyhe nets. — These nets, which are usually of small size and conse- 

 quently not very expensive, could be profitably used for the capture of 

 the various species of catfishes, dalags, martinicos, etc. 



OTHER JIETHODS OF FISHING. 



Trawl lines. — While trawl-line fishing was formerly employed almost 

 exchisively for catching codfish, it is now used to capture a great many 

 varieties. At Monterey, California, I noticed the trawl lines being 

 operated with good success to catch several kinds of fish, such as rock- 

 cod, etc. They might be used with profit in the Philippines for -such 

 fish as the groupers {Serranidx) , the mulmul, and others which take the 

 hook freely at the bottom. They are especially effective in taking eels. 



The trawl line consists of a strong ground-line 300 fathoms in 

 length, to which is fastened at intervals of one fathom a line 3 

 feet long to which a hook is attached. The hooks are baited and the 

 ground-line anchored at the bottom with a buoy to indicate its location. 

 A line for pulling it up is attached to it. 



Live-cars. — Next to improving the method of catching the fish, the 

 most important thing is to devise means by which they may be kept 

 alive until they are wanted by the consumer. To this end the live-car 

 is brought into requisition in several places, especially in tropical coun- 

 tries. This device is a very simple contrivance consisting of a square or 

 quadrangular box constructed of slats placed close enough together to keep 

 the fish in, but far enough apart to allow of a free circulation of water. 

 The cars are immersed in the water and the fish are kept inside until 

 they are wanted by the purchaser. At Key West the fishing schooners are 

 now usually provided with wells in which the water is kept circulating, 

 and in this way the fisheiTaen are able to keep the fish alive. The fishing 

 boats at Honolulu have wells with j)erforated sides through which the 

 water circulates freely. At this place live-boxes or cars are in common 

 use. Some of these are very large and are kept anchored close to the 

 fish market. The purchaser selects his fish from the wharf, it is then 

 dipped out of the live-box and delivered. Some modification of this 

 plan could be adopted in the Philippines, but it is only feasible where 

 the market is near salt water. 



