The encircling nets, of which the parse seine was the most 
important, were operated on a large scale for catching vast schools 
of fish. With the increase in motor boats the use of these nets be¬ 
came easier and more popular so that they were in recent years the 
principal nets used in the deeper waters for sardines. Of the numerous 
varieties of the Japanese purse seines the dimensions of two are given 
here. One type about 800 feet long and 180 feet deep was carried by 
two boats 6-8 feet in beam manned by 20 to 30 or more men. Another 
1,200 feet in length and 120 feet deep was handled by 30 or more fisher¬ 
men in two boats of about eight feet in beam. 
The drift net was simple and could be operated with relatively 
small capital investment. One type consisted of 15 smaller nets (each 
about 80 feet long) stitched together to make a length of 1,200 feet. 
The net was cast across the current by men in several small boats 
and was generally left drifting from sunset until the following morning, 
The drag net (haul seine) was the principal means used in 
earlier years, but gradually had fallen into relative disuse as it could 
i 
be operated only when the fish came close to shore. One type consisted 
of a large pocket 180 feet long and 180 feet in circumference and two 
wings, each about 1,500 feet long. Two boats manned by 30 men carried 
the net and when a sardine school was surrounded by it, the boats 
hauled the seine toward the shore where the fish were finally csu^it 
by being driven into the pocket as the wings were gradually drawn to 
the land. 
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