336 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THH FISHERIES. 
only 14-inch mesh. The seines of 145 feet depth are about 700 meshes deep. A seine with 23-inch 
wesh is the standard size for the average menhaden, which is estimated at 22 cubic inches. 
The corks at the upper edge of the scine are strung on the cork-line at from 12 to 15 inches apart, 
two corks, known in the trade as Nos. 2 and 3, being put together, and are 4 inches in diameter. 
About 60 pounds of lead weights, each 2 ounces, are fastened along the bottom of the seine at 
intervals of 4 inches apart at the sides and farther apart at the middle. The lower edge of the 
seine is hung on six-thread mauila line, and to, this are attached the bridles, which are about 18 
feet long and placed 18 feet apart. Upon each of these bridles slides one of the purse-rings, made 
of iron or brass, weighing 14 to 24 pounds and abvut 33 inches in diameter. Many of the seines 
have less weight than that given above. In operating the seine a large, heavy weight, called 
purse-weight or “Long-Tom,” is used, which is placed upon the vertical ropes at the end of the 
seine, by the use of snatch-blocks, and allowed to run down to the bottem of these ropes, thus 
holding together the ends of the lead-line before the pursing begins. 
The purse-lines are arranged to pass obliquely from the last purse-rings which are about 6 feet 
from the lead-line. This has the effect of leaving large triangular flaps of netting at the end and 
closing the opening of the seine when it is pursed. The twine is of cotton, No. 20 to No. 12 thread, 
except the middle or “bunt” of the seine, which is of stronger twine, No. 14 to No. 9 thread, to 
prevent the escape of the fish when they are crowded into a small compass. The twine is pre- 
vented from rotting by being tarred after the seine is knit andis preserved during the fishing 
season by sprinkling salt over it after each haul. The number of menhaden purse-seines in use in 
1880 was 366, valued at $138,400. 
THE SEINE-BOATS.—The seine-boats were formerly square-sterned, lap-streak boats, about 28 
feet in length, and resembling in shape an ordinary ship’s yawl; but the boats now in use resemble 
the whale-boat in shape, differing from it, however, in some important particulars. According to 
Mr. Gifford, a practical seine-boat builder of Gloucester, the seine-boat must have three qualities: 
(1) It should tow well; consequently it is made sharpest forward; a whale-boat, on the other hand, 
is sharpest aft, to facilitate backing after the whale has been struck. (2) It should row well, and 
this quality also is obtained by the sharp bow; the whale-boat also should row well, but in this 
case it has been found desirable to sacrifice speed in part to the additional safety obtained by 
having the stern sharper than the bow. (3) It should be stiff or steady in the water, since the 
operation of shooting the seine necessitates much moving about in the boat. 
The average length of the seine-boat is about 34 feet, its width 7 feet 5 inches, and its depth 
amidships 33 inches. At the stern is a platform measuring about 4 feet, fore and aft, on which 
the captain stands to steer. This is 6 to 8 inches below the gunwale. Another platform extends 
the whole length of the boat’s bottom, from the after part of which the seine is set. In the bow is 
still another platform, on which stands the man who hauls the cork-line. There are four thwarts 
or seats, a large space being left clear behind the middle of the boat for the stowage of the seines. 
Upon the starboard side of the boat, near the middle, is arranged an upright iron support, about 
18 inches in height, to which are attached two iron snatch-blocks, used in the working of the purse- 
ropes. On the opposite side of the boat, generally near the bow and stern, but with position varied 
according to the fancies of the fishermen, are fixed in the gunwale two staples, to which are attached 
other snatch-blocks used to secure additional purchase upon the purse-ropes. In the center of the 
platform at the stern of the boat is placed a large wooden pump, used to draw out the water which 
accumulates in large quantities during the hauling of the seine. 
Most of the steamers carry four seine-boats, two being used in setting the seine, one called 
the purse-boat and- the other the mate-boat. 
