FISH-SCRAP FERTILIZER INDUSTRY OF ATLANTIC COAST. 23 
one finds a smooth- bottom boat, with battened seams, in general use. 
The more flaring sides of the whaleboat have given way to a 
straighter and more nearly perpendicular shape. The boat might 
be described as long, deep, and narrow. These changes are said to 
give greater speed and greater durability on account of the closer 
seams; and the smooth sides and bottom prevent the entanglement 
of the twine of the seines. They are 30 to 35 feet in length and are 
provided with a platform, running their length, with elevations 
fore and aft. 
The purse seine is in general use among the menhaden fishermen. 
Its adoption marked an important stage in the development of the 
industry due to its great superiority over the older forms. The 
seine is about 1,500 feet long by 180 feet wide. When extended in 
the water it is supported by a row of corks fastened along its top. 
The distinctive feature of this form of seine is the arrangement 
provided for drawing it together, pursewise, at its bottom. At 
frequent intervals along its lower edge are suspended metal rings, 
about 3 inches in diameter (which also serve as weights to keep the 
seine fully stretched), through which passes a rope. The ends of 
this purse line are held in the purse boats. When the fish have been 
surrounded and the two ends of the seine brought together by haul- 
ing on the purse lines the bottom of the seine is drawn together. 
This prevents the fish from escaping by diving beneath the bottom 
of the net. As the seine is carried partly in one boat and partly in 
the other, to spread it it is necessary only to row the two boats in 
opposite directions, paying out the seines as the boats separate. 
(PL II, fig. 1.) In fishing this is done in such a way as to inter- 
cept and surround a school of fish. When the two boats have met 
on the side of the school opposite to that from which they started 
the purse line is hauled in to draw the seine together at the bottom, 
and the fish are secured. The seine is then hauled in to force the 
fish into a smaller compass. Following that the steamer is brought 
alongside and the fish are dipped from the seine by means of a large 
dip net, operated by an arrangement of block and tackle, and emptied 
into the hold. (PL II, fig. 2.) 
UNLOADING. 
Unloading at the docks was formerly effected by means of tubs 
filled by hand and hoisted to the docks by means of block and tackle. 
This has been supplanted at practically every factory by one or two 
elevators. These are bucket elevators and are an adaptation to the 
handling of fish of the apparatus employed in unloading wheat. 
The elevator is fed partly automatically through the fish sliding 
toward it of their own weight and partly through the aid of three 
or four members of the crew armed with shovels. 
