APPARATUS USED IN CAPTURING FISH. 259 



not previously startled, are frightened from tbeir hiding-places by the 

 lead-line, and generally shoot upward to escape. They, however, meet 

 the upper side of the uet, and in the progress of the trawl are carried 

 back toward the posterior extremity'. Here pockets have been made, or 

 cul-de-sacs, into which the fish make their way and hud themselves unable 

 to escape. 



After a certain time the trawl is lifted and the fish removed, and the 

 trawl thrown over again. As may be readily imagined, this trawl-net 

 can be used only on smooth bottom, sandy bottom being prefi'rred. If, 

 however, the lead-line catch upon a rock or other obstacle, it is so ar- 

 ranged that it will break before the drag-rope parts, so that no damage 

 will be done other than that of tearing the net, which, of course, is 

 preferable to losing the entire apparatus. 



Trawling is generally carried on in the direction of the tide, some- 

 times across, but never against it, as the trawl cannot be kept down 

 against the tide. The rate of progress is usually from half a mile to 

 two miles an hour, depending upon the kind of fish set for, the object 

 being to keep the trawl steadily working on the ground. 



It is not a little remarkable that this method of fishing should be en- 

 tirely unknown in the United States, while in England nearly all the 

 fishes of a certain class, such as the turbot, the sole, the plaice, &c., are 

 captured by its means. I have used a net of this character of smaller 

 size than that described, for several seasons, to great advantage in col- 

 lecting specimens for investigation ; but, with the exception of one con- 

 structed for my use and one used by Dr. Stimpson and Mr. Blatchford in 

 Florida, I am unaware of others having been placed in American waters. 

 It is possible that the unpopularity of the flat-fish in America may be 

 the cause of this state of things, as the flounders and skates that are 

 taken in so great quantity by this means are not marketable, or in very 

 small numbers only. 



A net known as the "casting-net" is in extensive use in the West In- 

 dies, Florida, and elsewhere on the southern coast. This consists of a 

 circle of netting, varying in diameter from four feet to fifteen or more, 

 to the circumference of which are attached, at short intervals, leaden 

 weights. There is a central opening in the net, usually constituted by 

 a ferrule of bone or metal. One end of a long rope passes through this 

 ferrule, and to it are attached numerous cords extending to the lead- 

 rope. The net is used by gathering up the casting-rope in a coil on one 

 arm, and taking the net itself on the other. By a dexterous fling of the 

 arm containing the net, this is thrown in such a way as to spread out 

 completely, and it is sometimes hurled to a distance of many feet, so as 

 to fall perfectly flat on the surface of the water. The leads sink imme- 

 diately, forming a circular inclosure, and imprisoning any fish that hap- 

 pen to be under it at the time. The rope is then hauled in from the 

 other end, causing the entire circumference to pucker inwardly, and the 

 leads and puckered portion come together in a compact mass, in which 

 the fish are entangled. Much skill is of course required for success in 

 the use of this net ; but it is very efficient in taking such fish as the 

 mullet, which, when captured with the common seine, will leap over the 

 cork-line with the greatest ease and escape. 



TRAPS, WEIRS, POUNDS, AND FYKES. 



In the United States by far the greatest weight of summer market-fish, 

 with the exception, perhaps, of the cod, shad, and menhaden, is taken in 

 the more elaborate constructions, variously known as traps, pounds, heart 



