The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
THE WORLDS LARGESTNET.
NINE THOUSAND sHAD AND $4,000
HERRING At ONE HAUL.
u u Operated In the Potomac River = Litti'
wns Ifciow wnshipHton- Its MILES or Rop'
wound In by stentn Nearly Tive MILES or So

Wound In by steam Nearly Tive MILES OF Vet
trom the Washington Eren'ne Star.
A short distance from this city, on the Po-
tonac River, Ia operated tho largest seine In
American waters. and probably In the world.
Tho fishing grounds nrc located at Stony Point,
Va, nearly opposite Indian Head, about twenty.
two miles below Washington. tho river at this
point being ono and .hree-quarter miles wide.
Tho seine is owned by Capt. William Ncithoy
OF this city, ami used only during tho
shnd and herring season. or nino or ten
weeks each spring, beginning about the
middle Of March. Although this seine has been
hauled on this shore year after year for nearly n
third OF u century, few people, except those d.
rcctly interested. are aware Of It's size and i'm
portancc. The length Of tho seine is 600 faith
oms, or 81, 900 feet, 800 feet less than two miles
long. Attached to each end aro large. heavy
robes leading to the shore, one rope being 800
feet long and the other $500 feet long, n com.
binod length of seine and rope Of 27,6oo feet, or
considerably over five miles.
IL is n novel and interesting sight to witness
the hauling OF the soino, and to observe the
skilful manipulations which result in the cap
turo OF immense quantities of fish.
Tho living quarters of the men consist Of two
long, narrow buildings, one occupied by the
officers and tho other by the crew, tho total
number usually employed being seventy or
seventy-lvo men. The only other building on
the grounds is tho engine shed. situated on the
shore, nearly three-fourths Of a mile south Of
the main buildings. This shed contains two en-.
Rines. one known Us the LAND" and the other
as the !" boat engine, which pull in the LAND "
and boat" ends OF the seine. respectively.
They develop twelve-horse power. and were
constructed expressly for this purpose.
Two hauls of the seine are made every twenty
four h%ours-on each ebb tide-regardless OF the
weather. When the tide is highest the exact
.g.- -.-l A. .r.A-. II-,-nl A. ,-u -N
about an hour before preparations for the haul
are begun. All hands are then called out; the
seine crew embarks in several rowboats for the
largo seine boat. which is anchored a short
distance offshore opposite the main build
ings; other men proceed in a number of
smaller boats to various points in the seine
berth to met the big boat as 1t comes around;
while still another boat, containing n large stack
of rope, one end of which ia connected with the
engine, three.fourths of a mile distant, makes off
in the direction of the seine boat, paying out the
rope as 1t goes. A few minutes afterward the
Captain Of the seine crew 10 on board, and the
boat. after lifting anchor. proceeds %northward,
almost parallel with the shore.
The seine boat is 20 feet long and about IL feet
beam. 1t Is propelled with oars, having seats
for twenty.four oarsmen, twelve on each side.
Continued practice has made the crew expert
rowers. the oars rising and falling with uniform
regularity. and the click of the oarlocks sound
ing in unison. An extra man in the bow, the
Captain and the seine attendant complete the
t SoG. s stands tasG: IN With Rl thMi s bsct to- the %es Seine rh ts eGp,
the men and directing their movements. as wen
as steering the boat;
perhaps one.third the length OF the boat. Its
width or depth Is accommodated to the depth OF
the water, ranging from twelve to thirty.eiHht
feet deep, the lead line being supposed to always
rest on the bottom. The cork floats. OF course,
hold the top line on the surface of the water.
On nearing the upper edge OF the berth, the
seine is first lot overheard, running over an iron
OF the seine, and to it is attached the rope brought +
out In the boat before mentioned, which reaches
awrI.. This rope is s,ioo 'f feet in length. T Ths
LAID" engine Immediately begins to haul in on
speed Of the boat. The boat is now turned to
the seine is Indicated BY a large can buoy. The
channel being, reached the boat is directed down
ont, the seine being laid out in the form Of a
sc'nicirclc and the ends being at least a mile
end. '"' O'a'
An enormous coil of rope which has been lying
the ioet. one end of which is fastened to the seine
and follows 4 out over the roller. This rope is
ei,sino. and IS $500 800 feet 4 u long, s or nearly M.EH two sRe
nile mile: The The boat Be ~, is low W, headed d. fSE the engine
diG;ance. paying out the rope as II goes. Largo
wooden kog buoys servo to keep the heavy rope
nnsr the b s n,nhs Of q the .s.w water e . When the en-,
ist,gen by the boat" engine. and hauling In
on this end begun tho ropes running around
The process OF laying out occupies an hour and
The five miles of rope and seine are now in the
water, but, of course. the fish which are within
the circle have not as yet felt any restraint i'm
cover their danger until It Is too late to escape
from t.. The small boats. six or seven in mum
Der. which meet the seine boat at various points
in tho berth. can be seen very slowly rowing
toward the land; they are following The seine,
because it is the duty of the occupants to look
out for vessels and prevent them from running
over The net. as well as to look after the seine
In about half an hour the land rope is all in,
thus leaving nothing in the water but the seine.
boats one on end remaining IDie y no the engine 'aSS r Snd
the other taken out and hooked into the first
:rs twenty.two on The seine. placed about
40 rect apart are large wooden floats. two
lead line, each beckett being provided with a a
the rope now Brought out. The IfRSse engine sa0f phen
pulls on this line. and when 4 is in another coil
of the seine as IT comes in, remaining in the
s s%ass %nta ' Ss 4 es explain Is Gndf Tiis sp psnt ERE 81 eEe S sdRE
requires great physical endnrance; Ann
themselves. BY this time the tide has carried
the seine down until tho back or "bunt" has
swung below the men, 30 that they have to pull
against the tide. A few hundred herring are
found gilled in the meshcs, and this Ia the only
indication thus far that any fish have been in
closed In thu net which has swept such a ire
mcndoug expanse OF water. The two gangs
of men, which are about 100 yards apart,
now begin 20 move, slowly toward each
other, pulling In as they go. This il con-
tinued until they have approached within fifty
feet of each other, by which time the water
within the constantly narrowing limits inclosed
by Inc Seine fairly p%listens with the silvery fins
and tails Of the captured fish. which are fran
tlcally endeayoring TO escape. A man follows
the back o: tho seine. beating the wateg with an
oar to ,frighten the fish toward the centre and
TO relieve the pressure against the net. Fifty
inen are now working with the seine. Tho wa
:cr In which those nearest the shore are stand
ing ID about knee deep, while those furthest out
are mp above their waists.
Al this j%uncture a number OF board planks are
placed end to end In the water, reaching from
nne side nj fbn ananinU hat ,yaan tho az IN the