General Information

Serial #

10267

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

otter or bottom trawl

Patents

N/A

General Description

synthetic & natural fibres; metal (including aluminium and steel)

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

2134.0 cm

Width

91.4 cm

Height

46.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Fisheries

Category

Tools & equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Phillips

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Grimsby

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Probably used c. 1940s- late 1960s.

Canada

Type of trawl net used in Canada for fishing groundfish species such as cod, haddock, redfish, turbot, yellowtail, etc.. Otter or bottom trawl nets have dominated the total groundfish catches from the Northwest Atlantic since the arrival of the distant waterfleets in the 1960s, and have been the major component of Canadian groundfish landings for almost as long. (Ref. 1) Paper tags fixed to net suggests associations with some of the oldest and best-known rope and net making firms, including Gourock (founded in Gourock, Scotland in 1736); Gourock-Bridport Ltd. (Montreal, PQ (1903-c. late 1960s; sail loft established in Halifax, NS 1941-45); and Gundry Ltd. (established in Ireland in 18th c.). All tags issued by Gourock-Bridport- Gundry Ltd.: both Moncton, NB and Halifax, NS locations quoted. Specifics of provenance of this trawl net is unknown.

Function

To harvest groundfish species when towed by a boat along the ocean bottom.

Technical

Aluminium floats like those on this net ceased to be used in the late 1980s. Previously, floats were made of cork or more commonly glass. Inexpensive to mass produce, glass floats allowed the mouth of the trawl net to float higher, as glass is resistant to pressure. Netting was made of natural fibres such as hemp. The use of synthetic fibres for the making of fishing nets had a significant impact on the fishing industry, in that it stimulated a renaissance in gillnetting techniques after WWII. Modern trawl nets used in the Maritimes have changed very little in design except that the mesh size has increased so that smaller fish are not trapped within the netting. (Ref. 1) Colour variation is netting used to distinguish different types of netting; allow users to track position of nets as they were loaded/laid; and identify problem areas requiring mending, replacement, etc. (Ref. 7)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Approx. 35 aluminum floats tied to net mouth: all believed to be identical, and marked "PHILIPS/ DEEP SEA MODEL/ GUARANTEED" and "MANUFACTURERS/ PHILLIPS TRAWL PRODUCTS LTD./ GRIMSBY ENGLAND". "3 4/ PW" cast in raised print on metal eye reinforcing net at top end. Three paper tags found loose in crate or tangled in netting: marked "To/ 1 pr. Skagen/ Lower Wings/ FROM/ GOUROCK - BRIDPORT - GUNDRY LTD./ PIER 2, DEEPWATER HALIFAX, N.S.", "FROM/ GOUROCK-BRIDPORT-GUNDRY LTD., MONCTON, N.B./ FISHING NETS, LINES, TWINES, WIRE ROPE AND ROPE FROM/ SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL FIBRES/ Rubber Boots, Clothing, & everything for the Commercial Fisheries" & (on reverse) "4.5 mm/ 40/40/ 15'/ 4 3/8"; and "To/ Skagen/ Lower Wings/ FROM/ GOUROCK - BRIDPORT - GUNDRY LTD./ PIER 2, DEEPWATER HALIFAX, N.S." Tied to last tag is thin silver metal foil tag marked "10267". Paper tag tied to net, approx. 1/3 from top end, marked "To/ Top Wing Skagen 53"/ 240 x 4/ P. Colley/ FROM/ GOUROCK- BRIDPORT - GUNDRY LTD./ PIER 2, DEEPWATER HALIFAX, N.S.". Paper tag tied to net, approx. 1/3 from top end, marked "FROM:/ GOUROCK- BRIDPORT- GUNDRY LTD.,/ NORTH HEAD,/ GRAND MANAN, N.B./ FISHING NETS, LINES, TWINES, AND ROPE FROM/ SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL FIBRES./ Rubber Boots, Clothing & everything for the Commercial Fisheries"; on reverse "Extensions 15/54/ 80 x 88/ 1 only".

Missing

Unknown.

Finish

Orange, red, and yellow synthetic fibre (polypropylene ?) netting; natural fibre (hemp ?) and metal fittings and cable; spherical, hollow aluminium alloy floats.

Decoration

N/A