Does anybody know anything about the line used to make Stowboat nets. These were used to catch sprats in Thames estuary. Pommy mate has smple from 1940’s and looks like a linen/ flax about 1mm dia.
Cheers
Frank
Bowline,
You might want to check out seine twine.
Google it.
Frank,
Are you shure it is not spelt ‘Stowe’ ?
Could make all the difference to responses
Gordon
Hello Frank,
Good to hear from you again, I enjoyed your country, especialy your lovely island.
As a guess I would say cotton was the most used string, but hemp and linen may have been used too.
So I declare myself not knowledged enough in this field.
Rest sending you on to someone who is more likely to have the answers.
In a case like this I would phone or e-mail Des Pawson. (He lives in the general area and has a longterm interest in string and what can be done with it, including fishing knowledge.
His e-mail address and phone number are as published in the 2004/5 membership handbook.
Willeke
Thanks for responses. Checked out spelling— no luck. Pretty sure the sprat catchers would not have got their lines from FLA. Wrong texture and colour for cotton.
Des is too young for this stuff.
Frank
Frank,
Further research - Modern Fishing Gear of the World - 1959, published by Fisheries Division of the Food and Agrigculture Organisation of the United Nations.
STOW Nets are the type of net used to catch fish in flowing rivers and esturies. The principle feature of a stow net is that water needs to flow through the net to keep it open (may be hand held like a shrimp net or anchored on a stake) or another type has ‘otter boards’ to keep them open and can be used from boats anchored in a tidal stream. The materials quoted to make these nets range from Cotton, Hemp and Manila to Polyester and Polyamide.
One German article (talking of the poly type materials) states they were ‘formerly’ of cotton.
So I guess your ‘stowboat’ net is a stow net used from a boat.
Gordon
Frank,
Des may be younger than the people using these nets, he has been collecting old string and rope things and knowledge for many years now. He also knows a few real old fishermen. And has a collection of books on the subject.
Willeke
Thanks Gordon, thanks Willeke— much appreciated.
Frank