ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
135 
FISHERMAN AT THE FYKE NET 
The operator moves about in a small skiff. 
Photograph by C. M. Breder, Jr. 
entrance finds it very difficult to withdraw. This 
principle has been applied for a great length 
of time and while refined and modified in vari¬ 
ous manners is still essentially the same be its 
use intended for the capturing of mammals, 
birds or fishes. The funnels of which there are 
usually two or more are placed with the large 
opening outward. The animals readily pass 
through this and are then usually unable to 
r cognize the small opening through which they 
passed as an exit, when facing in the opposite 
direction. The use of this principle is well ex¬ 
emplified by common rat 
traps, fly traps, and sparrow 
traps. Either bait or some 
natural instinct of the ani¬ 
mal sought, may be used to 
entice the creatures through 
the funnels. In the case of 
the fyke no bait whatever is 
used, the trap’s operation 
being based solely on certain 
instincts of fishes. Referring 
to the diagram a vertical 
wall of net is seen to extend 
from one end of the trap. 
This is called the leader and 
reaches out for a consider¬ 
able length in a shorewardly 
direction. Its function is to 
direct fishes passing by 
parallel to the shore into 
the trap proper. On being 
confronted with this block 
to their passage they in¬ 
stinctively turn seaward, in 
order to pass around it. 
This leads them into the 
wings forming the so-called 
heart. From there they pass 
on into the tube of netting 
supported by hoops and fin¬ 
ally through the two funnels 
inside of this until they 
reach the last receptacle or 
pocket in which they remain 
until removed by the fisher¬ 
man. There is no positive 
obstruction to the fishes exit 
except their own stupidity 
which appears to be entirely 
sufficient, although doubtless 
a certain small percentage 
do eventually work their 
way out. However, after 
once passing through the 
three funnel-like gates their 
chances of escape are small. 
It is from these nets, of which there are six 
in the bay, that many of the interesting smaller 
fishes are taken which pass through the larger 
meshes of the greater sized pound nets. The 
fykes of Sandy Hook Bay are usually set about 
the first of September and kept in operation 
until the ice prevents their successsful manipu¬ 
lation. Striped bass are the fish most desired 
by the owner, but many other species of good 
market value are taken, included in which are, 
weakfish, flue, eels, blue fish, mullet, not to 
THE POCKET OF THE FYKE NET 
When the hoop section of the fyke is collapsed, the fish are removed 
► from outermost pocket. 
Photograph by C. M. Breder, .Tr. 
