The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-03-19
The Worlds Largest Net.

From the Washington Evening Star
/ \ short distance from this city, on the
Potomac River, is operated the largest
seine in American waters, and probably in
the world The fishing grounds are located
at Stony Point, Va, nearly opposite Indian
Head, about twenty-five miles below
Washington, the river at this point being
one and three quarter miles wide. The
seine is owned by Capt. William Neitzey
of this city and used only daring the shad
and herring season. OF nine 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 third of century, few people,
except those directly interested, are aware
of its size and importance. The length of
the seine is 500 fathoms, or 9, 900 feet,
$50 feet less than two miles long. At
tached to each end are large, heavy ropes
leading to the shore, one rope being 5, 100
feet long and the other 5000 feet long, a
combined length of seine and rope of 81
600 feet, or considerably over five miles.
1t is novel and interesting sight to
witness the hauling of the seine, and to
observe the skilful manipulations which re
suit in the capture of immense quantities
Of fish.
The living quarters of the men consist of
two long narrow buildings, one occupied by
the sailors and the other by the crew, the
total number usually employed being sew
enty or seventy five men. The only other
building on the grounds is the engine shed,
situated on the shore, nearly three -fourths
of ii mile south of the main buildings.
This shed contains two engines, one known
as the Asland' 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 hours-on each ebb tide-re-
gardless of the weather. When the tide
is highest the exact time is noted, and the
water allowed to run out about an hour be-
fore preparations for the haul are begun.
All hands are then called out; the seine
| ClCh CIlUdI ND III SChCAdl 1OMbOdlS IOt IhC
large seine boat, which is anchored short
distance ofshore opposite the main build
ings; other men proceed in number of
smaller boats to various points in the same
berth to meet the big boat as it comes
around; while still another boat, containing
large stack of rope, one end of which is
connected with the engine, three -fourths
of mile distant, makes off in the direction
of the seine boat, paying out the rope as it
goes 4 few minutes afterward the Cap
tain of the seine crew is on board, and the
boat, after lifting anchor, proceeds north
ward, almost parallel with the shore.
The seine boat is 70 feet long and about
IL feet beam. 1t is propelled with oars,
having seats for twenty 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 sounding in
unison An extra man in the bow, the
Captain and the seine attendant complete
the boats crew, in all twenty seven men.
The Captain stands with his back to the
seine. facing the men and directing their
movements. as well as steering the boat
The seine is piled in the stern and occu-
pies 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 eight 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 let overheard running over
an iron roller at the stern This is called
the land end of the seine, and to it is
attached the rope brought out in the boat
before mentioned, which reaches to the ell
gine, now over one and half miles away
This rope is 8,100 feet in length The
Gland engine Immediately begins to haul
in on this line as soon as the seine is thrown
ont, but its movement is very slow COM
pared with the speed of the boat. The
boat is now turned to the east, making for
the channel The centre of the seine is
indicated by large can buoy. The chan
mel being reached the boat is directed down
the river until all the 900 fathoms have
run out, the seine being laid out in the
form of semicircle and the ends being at
least a mile apart This end of the seine
is called the "boat' end.
An enormous coil of rope which has been
lying under the seine is now disclosed on
the bottom of the boat one end of which
is fastened to the seine and follows it out
over the roller. This rope is to connect
the boat end of the seine with the engine,
and is 8, 900 feet long, or nearly two miles.
The boat is now headed for the engine
shed, which is but dimly discernible at
such distance, paying out the rope as it
goes. Large wooden keg buoys serve to
keep the heavy rope near the surface of
the water. When the engines are reached
the crew are landed, the rope is taken by
the "boat' engine, and hauling In on this
end begun, the ropes running around
grooved wheels to prevent them from slip
ping, The process of laying out occupies
an hour and a half.
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 imposed upon their freedom,
and they do not discover their danger until