Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 59.djvu/560

550 as required. When the fish have come toward the surface and are on one side or the other of the net, his object is to cast the bait in such a way that they will rush against the net and become gilled.

Considerable skill and experience are of course necessary in managing the net and in having it hang properly in the water and not become folded or wavy owing to currents or tide. Unless the net is straight or gently curved, the fish will see and avoid it. When a net contains fish and is ready for hauling, it is taken in the boat and the fish are removed from the meshes by gently shaking the net.

The sardines are often found in a compact body, and the boats will be concentrated in a comparatively small area, at times so close together that the operation of the net would seem almost impossible and the chance of catching fish very improbable. The entire fleet of a given

port—consisting of several hundred boats—may be at work on one school and fishing literally en masse instead of individually.

No ice or other preservative is used on the fish, which are landed a short time after gilling. The fish reach port in good condition, and are often at the canneries within one or two hours after capture. Should the failure or unfavorable direction of the wind threaten to delay the arrival of the boats, and hence impair the quality of the fish, the crews row leisurely back to the port.

Soon after reaching port the nets are spread for drying, being hauled to the top of the masts and suspended between them for this purpose. When all the fleet has arrived and the nets are spread, the view of the maze of blue nets, sails and masts is most interesting and unique.