DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION. 
375 
GILL NETS. 
The equipment includes a variety of gill nets which may be used as drift nets or 
anchored either at the surface, at the bottom, or at intermediate depths. They all 
have boats at the top of the net and sinkers at the bottom, the former having sufficient 
buoyancy to support the net at the surface. In the event of its being set beneath the 
surface extra weights are added, and its position at or above the bottom depends upon 
the length of the anchor ropes. 
The following is a list of the gill nets furnished the Albatross. 
Kinds and dimensions of 
gill nets. 
Length. 
Depth. 
Size of 
mesh. 
Twine. 
Kinds and dimensions of 
gill nets. 
Length. 
Depth. 
Size of 
mesh. 
Twine. 
Trammel net (2) 
Mackerel gill net 
Uo.... 
Do 
Menhaden gill net 
Do 
Path. 
15 
30 
30 
30 
15 
15 
Path. 
2i 
OA 
2^ 
"3 
2 
2 
Inches. 
1 2 
1 6 
3 
2i 
3j 
91 
35-3 
12-16 
16-6 
16-6 
16-6 
16-6 
16-6 
Sh.ad gill not 
Do 
God gill net 
Do 
Herring gill net (2) 
Do 
Ked-snapi>er gill net (2) . 
Path. 
50 
50 
100 
100 
20 
20 
50 
Path. 
4 
4 
2 
2 
2i 
2| 
3 
Inches. 
A 
7 
8 
2i 
2i 
9 
35-3 
35-3 
40-10 
40-10 
20-6 
20-6 
These nets are not all carried at the same time, owing to lack of space. A few of 
those most commonly used are retained, and others are taken when required. 
The following nets are used for surface and shoal- water collecting: 
Casting net: Diameter, 5^ feet; mesh, inches. 
Surface tow nets, small: Silk holting-cloth. 
Surface tow nets, large: Netting 4-inch square 
mesh, twine 20-(i, harked, and mos(iuito net lining. 
Wing nets : Chee.se-clotli, cotton. 
Tub strainer nets : cheese-cloth, cotton. 
Dip nets: Silk bolting-cloth. 
Dip nets: Cheese-cloth, cotton. 
Scoop nets. 
Fyke net. 
Seines are among the most useful apparatus for collecting alongshore, and the 
vessel is provided with the Baird collecting seine and the drag seine. 
The Baird colleeting seine was devised by the late Prof. Spencer F. Baird for the 
use of naturalists iu the collection of specimens along the margins of the sea, lakes, 
and rivers. It was originally from 9 to 15 feet in length; A^ery light, compact, easily 
carried by one man and operated by two; but it has since been made in various sizes, 
and much enlarged, even to 110 feet in length. The three sizes generally used will 
be described. Stretch measure will be used to iiiaicate the size of mesh. 
The Baird seine No. 1 is 15 feet in length and 3^- feet in depth; the middle section 
of 5 feet, including the bag, 4 feet long, is ^-inch mesh; the wings, each 5 feet in 
length, are |-inch mesh. It has ordinary Avooden floats and lead sinkers, about 9 ounces 
to the foot on the ndddle section, decreasing gradually toward the extremities. A 
wooden staff on each Aviug facilitates hauling. 
The material of the net is the best quality of cotton seine twine, 20-6 barked. 
The Baird seine No. 2 is 25 feet in length and 4^ feet iu depth ; the middle section of 
9 feet, including the bag, 6 feet in length, is |-inch mesh; the wings are 8 feet long, 
4 feet being §-inch, and the remaining 4 feet at the extremities 1-inch mesh. Twine, 
floats, sinkers, and staves are the same as those used with No. 1. 
The Baird seine No. 3 is 45 feet iu length and 6 feet in depth. The middle section 
of 15 feet, including the bag, 8 feet in length, is 4-inch me.sh; the wings are each 15 
feet long, the inner half f-iuch mesh, and 1 inch at the extremities. The twine, 
floats, sinkers, staves, etc., are the same as on the smaller nets. 
The drag seine is the largest collecting net used ou board the Albatross. It is 
150 feet iu length, 20 feet deep iu the bunt, and 24-iuch mesh. It is the ordinary 25- 
fathom ship seine, fltted iu the usual manner. 
