258 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 



down the stream another row of stakes is set, each opposite a stake in 

 the bar-net, and between these stakes a wing-net is stretched, having sev- 

 eral yards of netting more than suffices for the distance. This end is 

 carried round in the form of a triangle and held in position by poles 

 lashed together at their ends. The free end of one pole is secured to 

 the stake, and of the other to the seaming of the wing-net, and thus 

 secured they float at the surface of the stream. 



The triangular portion of the wing, or ^'hook" as it is called, is ar- 

 ranged so as to allow an opening between the end of the hook and the 

 wing through which the salmon enter the triangle. 



The netting is made of strong gilling-twine, the minimum mesh 

 allowed being five inches. 



The salmon swimming up the current come in contact with the bar- 

 net, and turning to pass around it, find themselves opposed by the wing ; 

 they turn again up stream, and are pretty certain to enter the hook, the 

 netting of which hangs slack. In their efforts to escape they become 

 gilled. 



Another kind of net, not unfrequently used in Europe, but less in this 

 country, is what is called the ^Hrammel-netP This consists of three 

 seines of similar outline, fastened together at their edges. The central 

 .net is very loose and full, and is of fine thread and small mesh. The 

 fctwo outer ones measure from three to six inches along the side of the 

 mesh, and of coarser thread. The fish, in moving along on either side, 

 especially if suddenly startled, pass readily through the first or coarser 

 meshes and strike against the inner net, w^hich is forced through on the 

 opposite side, the fullness of the net readily permitting this protrusion. 

 The fish is then held in a kind of pocket, and, in endeavoring to escape, 

 lis quite as likely to carry the bag the net has made across into another 

 ^mesh, which, of course, holds it with perfect security. This net is much 

 used in mill-ponds and other localities filled with brush or other obstruc- 

 tions preventing dragging-apparatus. Here, by muddying the vicinity 

 of the net and then stirring around and making a great noise, the 

 •startled fish shoot in every direction, and freciuently strike the net and 

 are captured. 



Next to the seine-nets of various forms, and far more productive than 

 "the gill-net, is the apparatus called ^^traicV in England. This is simply 

 a huge bag of netting, with an open mouth, drawn behind a vessel and 

 • dragging on the bottom of the sea, sweeping into itself the ground-fish, 

 -surface- shells, sea-weed, &c. Quite commonly this is about seventy feet 

 long, with a semi-elliptical opening at the mouth of forty feet in breadth, 

 •diminishing gradually to the posterior end, where, however, there is a 

 portion, of about ten feet in length, of a uniform diameter of four or 

 five feet. The upper part of the mouth of the net is fastened to a beam 

 of wood about forty feet long, supported at each end by two iron 

 frames three Ix^et high, and known as the trawl-heads or irons, the ui)per 

 part of which has a socket into which the beam passes, and the lower 

 side having a runner, turned up forward, on which the trawl rests. The 

 trawl-net is fastened to the beam above, and to a leaded rope below, 

 which extends from one runner to the other, exhibiting a considerable 

 amount of slack. Eopes are fastened to each runner, which are brought 

 together, after passing a certain distance, and to them the line itself is 

 attached by which the apparatus is dragged along. Thus rigged, the 

 apparatus is lowered over to the bottom, and is held behind a vessel of 

 thirty-five to sixty tons, or even more, in moderate motion. The runners 

 glide over the bottom, dragging the lead-line between them. The fish, 

 as they; are imbedded in the sand or concealed in the mud or weeds, if 



