324 
BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 
ders, the improved style catches shad, striped bass, weakfish, eels, and other fish in 
large quantities. This type of fyke net, designated a “ pound fyke,” has been described. 
It is set singly, in pairs, or in strings containing from three to six nets, and has a 
value of $30. The “pound fyke” is used at various other places in northern New 
Jersey. It is always essentially similar to the Port Monmouth type, the variatioxis in 
construction being of minor importance. 
The restrictions which in recent years have been placed on fyke nets in the Dela- 
ware Eiver have considerably reduced the visible or apparent extent of the fishery 
and made difficult the study of the subject. Practically all of the fishing is done at 
night, at the risk of fine, imprisonment, and the confiscation of apparatus. The darker 
the night and the more stormy the weather the better it suits the fishermen. 
The principal forms of fykes used in the Delaware are the “ drop fykes” or “brook 
fykes,” sometimes locally called “pike nets.” These are usually set in shallow water. 
Sometimes twenty to twenty-five nets are fastened together, the small end of one net 
being attached by a line to the bottom of the first hoop of the next net. A line with a 
buoy is fastened to the small end of the first net. Sometimes the buoy line is carried 
to the shore and tied to a twig in an inconspicuous place in order to avoid the watchful 
eye of the fish warden, who often- sails directly over a long string of nets without 
knowing of their presence. In some instances the strings of nets are set without buoy 
lines or shore lines ; “marks” or “ranges” are then taken by one man on shore while 
the other is setting the nets. A long pole or boathook is then required to haul up the 
nets. When set singly, as the brook fykes often are, they are placed as shown in 
plates lxxii and lxxiii, fig. 1, that is, they are kept in position by means of stones. 
The extent of this fishery in 1891 was as follows, the figures being shown by 
counties : 
Fishermen. 
Nets and boats,. 
Counties. 
Fyke nets. 
Boats. 
No. 
V alue. 
No. 
Value. 
Atlantic 
12 
$36 
1 
$25 
Burlington 
1,055 
3, 755 
49 
980 
Cape May 
3 
150 
50 
Hudson 
210 
3, 750 
16 
1,450 
Middlosox 
22 
990 
2 
225 
Monmouth 
213 
4, 430 
52 
1, 131 
Ocean 
47 
1,080 
16 
294 
Total 
1, 562 
14, 191 
137 
4, 155 
