The record-union., 1894-06-23
OF THE pnRsE NET.


Of all the human agencies of inny de-
struction, the most effective is the purse
net, an American device and credit to
ankee ingenuity. This direful engine
is flexible partition of meshed twine,
extending, in its greatest length, TO l.SOO
feet, with maximum depth of l50. a
line of floating corks along its upper or
surface edge, and series OF metal rings
strung along its lower margin, serve TO
maintain its vertical position when set.
Upon deserving a school of fish two
boats quit the fishing steamer, each car
rying one-half of the net. Approaching
the school as near as may be, they sepa-
rate in opposite directions, paying out the
net as they go, which, upon the compile
ton Of the circle about their prey, is fully
immersed, leaving IN each boat the oppo-
site ends OF long rope passing through
the metal rings alluded 10. These ends
are then drawn in by the united strength
of the two crews, resulting in a contrac-
ton of the nets area and a gathering to-
gether OF its bottom edges, thereby form
ing an immense floating bag, inclosing a
space OF very nearly eight acres. over
this extended area, TO q depth Of nearly
100 feet, every living creature OF size
insufficient 10 pass through small mesbes
is securely impounded. This Is the chief,
indeed may be said TO be the only. agency
OF menhaden capture, which has en-
meshed at a single scoop as many as
69O. 900, weighing twenty-three tons, and
with l,50O-teet net only.
The fishery Is prosecuted by an associa-
ton OF companies, who, in 1892, had fifty
i've steamers, ten sailing vessels and
twenty-nine factories operating from
Maine to Virginia. In good years these
companies secure several hundred thou
sand tons of fish, and the belief that
portion of such catch is of edible fish oc-
caslonS much hostile feelings. The dis
persal of food fish and consequent inabil-
ity TO reach their spawning grounds Is
also charged against them. The capture
Of edible tish TO any material extent is
denied but upon the occasion OF the last
official investigation such denial was met
by the sworn testimony of market men
to whom cargoes of spoiled good fish had
been offered, which, after rejection,
presumably found their way to the rem
dering factory.
MENHADEN DRIVEN SEAWARD.
The companies continued TO assert their
innocence, and it may be that when a
school of market fish is found feeding
upon one of menhaden, the interlopers
are, after capture, carefully restored to
the element. A vessel isolated upon the
ocean. and hurrying to nearby factory
situated upon a lonely beach, runs how
loaded with food fish, and the impulse Of
the commercial fisherman is probably to
consider that all fish are the subject OF
legitimate capture. It is almost univer-
sally remarked that there are fewer men,
haden near the shore than formerly,
necessitating the conclusion either of a
diminution of their number or their sea-
ward impulSion. as result OF The lnces-
SAINT straining OF inshOre waters through
enormous purse nets.
Where the dinner is, there will the
diner be, and food fish are probably as
prone to follow after means of subsist-
ence as flies to the pursuit OF wandering
cattle. 1t is certain that menhaden hsner-
men operate further seaward than for
merly, and the absence of the usual num-
Der of menhaden along the shore may
reasonably be alleged as one OF the causes
of the lack OF food fish. Another COM
plant against the menhaden fishermen is
that the sweep of their deep nets over
spawning grounds disturbs the deposit OF
ova, or scatters the spawning fish, and in
other ways luterferes with and diminlshes
the result of the productive process.
The foregoing are some of the griev-
ances that form the basis of the outcry
against the inshore operations Of the
menhaden companies, and are sought to
be mitigated, if not redressed, by the I'M
position of a three-mile off-shore limit.
such as is in force upon the Massachusetts
coast, within which all purse seining is
debarred.-New York Times.