Fishing and Gear Technology

11.3.6 Hauling

11.3.Bottom trawling
11.3.6.Hauling
After dragging the gear for a prescribed duration of 2-4 hours depending on the catch, the hauling operation begins. Decelerate the engine and engage the winch clutch. The winch drums start rotating and the main warps are heaved in evenly on to the winch drums until the otter boards reach the gallows. As soon as otter boards reach the gallows stop the hauling and fix the otter board to the respective gallows. Then the net is dragged with full speed for some time so that fishes present in the body of the net are driven into the codend. This also help in cleaning the net. After decelerating the engine, sweeps and bridles are hauled in followed by the main body, throat and finally codend of the net. If the codend is heavy with the fish catch, mast and derrick is used for hauling up the codend. Further, the codend was full of fish catch then catch may be split in to two parts by using split rope provided in the middle of the codend and then part by part catch is taken aboard.
In large trawlers, a system consisting of Kelley’s eye, independent wire and back strap is used for transferring the load back to the powered hauling system or net drum after otter boards have reached the gallows.