358 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
To assemble the Blake deep-sea trawl, place the ruuuers in position and secure tlie 
beams to them with the bolts which are habitually kept in the holes in the beam ends; 
those for the front one have heads terminating in eyes for the bridle, otherwise the 
beams are interchangeable. Attach the net by seizing the lead ropes through holes 
in the runners, leaving them with slack enough to sag to the beam; lace the leeches 
to the rear ends of the runners, and adjust the drawstring in the lower end of the 
pocket, leaving an opening about 2 feet in diameter. 
Seize the bridle to the eyebolts on the runners, using from six to eight turns of 
marline; gather in the end of the jacket, the cheese-cloth lining, trawl net, and the 
bridle legs, and pass the tail lashing. Hitcli the mud bag to the eyes in the bridle 
legs, and attach as many trawl weights as required to frame and net, the number 
being determined by the depth of water, nature of the bottom, strength of current, 
and the state of the sea. 
This ti'awl is the joint production of Commander C. D. Sigsbee, Professor Agassiz, 
and officers of the BJale, on which vessel it was brought into successful operation. 
MATERIAL FOR TRAWL NETS. 
The webs from which nets are made for the beam trawl and the Tanner trawls. 
Nos. 1 and 2, are of three sizes, all barked. For body of net, 30 thread, 1-inch mesh, 
square, hanging 17 feet or 150 meshes deep; for iiocket, 21 thread, 1-inch mesh, square, 
hanging 0 feet or 54 meshes deep; for jacket, 16 thread, ^-iuch mesh, square, hanging 
0 feet or 108 meshes deep. For the Blake deei)-sea trawl a larger mesh is used, 
though the web remains the same in all other respects. It is 30-thread, l^-iuch mesh, 
square, hanging 17 feet or 100 meshes deep. The material for pockets and jackets is 
the same as that described for beam trawl nets. 
Material for the Tanner beam trawl net No. 3 is 21-thread, 1-incli mesh, square, 
and for the jacket, thread 24-6 stow, ^-inch mesh, square. 
The hang of a web is its natural form, with the meshes square, occupying the 
same space in length and width. Square measure is the length of one side of the mesh, 
and stretch measure is the total length of mesh when extended; hence the latter is 
double the former. Stretch measure is in general use among net-makers. 
Lead rope sinkers for trawl nets are oval in form, the larger size about 2 inches in 
length, 14 inches in diameter, and a f-inch hole through the center, while tiiose for the 
Tanner No. 3 net are IJ inch in length, f inch in diameter, and a |-iuch hole. 
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING TRAWL NETS. 
BEAM TRAWL AND TANNER TRAWL NO. 1. 
To make a net for the beam trawl or for the Tanner trawl No. 1, cut from the web 
50 feet, stretch measure, or 300 meshes; take 4 fathoms of 14-iuch manila rope, whip 
both ends, and middle it, also find the middle of one end of the web and hitch it to tlie 
head rope With a netting needle, working both ways from the center; make a small eye 
in the headrope at each corner of the net, to serve as head cringles; then continue 
down the sides of the apron, stitching them to the same rope for a space of 4 feet 6 
inches, taking up 45 meshes. There are 50 meshes in the apron, but the remaining 5 
are left unroped for a purpose that will preseutlj^ appear. The length of leech ropes. 
