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Description:Pair trawling with the Larsen trawl has a history dating back to the late 1940s when experiments were first carried out in Ireland (Dublin). At that time, drift nets were used predominantly to catch herring. During the mid-1950s Scottish ring net boats began working out of Dunmore and Donegal, with great success. These soon gave way to the Scandinavian "vinge" trawls. Through the decade up to the late 1960s, both wing trawls and two-boat midwater trawls became mainstays of the Irish herring industry, and now pair trawling is the predominant method there. But other methods are available to the herring industry, and the technology is advancing rapidly. Single-​boat midwater trawling for herring in New England has not demonstrated economic success due to several reasons to be discussed later in the text. Nevertheless, whenever large shoals of herring are seen off bottom, interest in midwater trawling grows, and it seems to grow in proportion to the amount of fish seen. Pair trawling has been seen as a promising possibility in midwater and, consequently, pair trawls have been tried on several occasions in Rhode Island waters and in the Gulf of Maine since 1969. During February and March of 1972, four vessels were notably successful in pair trawling out of Point Judith, Rhode Island. This report is based on their experience. The notes of James McLeod of Killybegs, Ireland, who was retained as a consultant, follow the main text. During the fall of 1971 several fishermen from Point Judith, Rhode Island, showed interest in trying midwater trawling for herring during the winter. They initiated both single-boat and pair trawling efforts with the help of the University of Rhode Island Marine Advisory Service (MAS), a Sea Grant program. The MAS, however, played only a supporting role and did not underwrite any operational expenses. Substantial credit is due to the fishermen, both skippers and crews, for the information resulting from their efforts. Special thanks are due to David Roebuck and the crew of the Karen Sue, who were not able to realize a viable economic return from their single-boat venture. The major emphasis in this report is on the rigging and operation of the four vessels doing the midwater pair trawling; each pair of vessels handled the gear differently, and, as will be noted, each method had its advantages and disadvantages. Comparisons with single-boat operations were made and will be mentioned where deemed important.
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Sea Grant Document Number:RIU-TL-72-014
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