Inspector Floataholic

After yesterday's boathouse explorations by Per and Amund, I went to sleep thinking about the photos, and the possibilities for today. Per started today's emails by answering my question about the fish-shaped marker with the two glass floats attached. Attached to the first email was a photo showing a different fish-shaped wooden buoy, and Per's explanation:


Hi Tom

This wodden (wooden) fish similar to the white wodden fish with floats, is
called "Nise." Glass floats did hang from below the fish as seen on last night's marker picture. The floats on this "Nise" are gone-only the float hangers are still intact. Often used on nets at the beginning or end as a marker.

The wodden fish was also used to find out the power of the seawater's drift, and which direction it ran. They were often used together with the wodden stick with four floats that were attached below the mid-point on the stick, and there was a flag on top. (See photo of one of those markers on the 2/05/09 post) I will send a picture later tonight.

The wodden fish were also used together with a fishing line baited with Herring on many hooks. Remember that wodden float I sent you with 3 floats inside? The line was turned around it together with the hooks. When the whole line was set out at sea, the wooden marker was floating at the surface, the baited hooks and line below. Sometimes just the float box and gear, without the flag, or only the flag without the wodden fish-when the fisherman knew the current's direction.
I hope you understood my explanation and my English.

There was also an email from Todd the "Norsknailpounder," asking a question, and telling of his enjoyment of the photos that Roger and Marie sent:

Hey!
Now that shot of those teardrops is mouthwatering ! Did Per say what the two cork or bark sectional floats at the bottom of the picture were used for? Great to see all your pictures of the Stranne floats !!!

Todd

I forwarded Todd's question to Per, and he answered:


Here is an answer to Todd's questions. The two ordinary cork floats...Those floats are oval and approx 16cm tall and 12cm wide. Cork floats were used on Herring nets. Cork floats of this type were buildt up by adding slices of cork together.
They were no good for deep water because pressure filled the corks with salt water and the whole fishing net was lost!

Per also added:

The wodden fish without floats were used as frightening gear just outside the opening of 10 or so Herring nets strung together. The nets was tied together and set out at sea in a round circle which surrounded the Herring. A small rowboat was
situated at the opening of the nets, and the woodfish sent down into the seawater to frighten the Herring back into the circle of nets.

The day ends with Per and Amund's closing:


Hi Tom,

Am sending pictures from yesterday and this morning. More to come tomorrow, history too! Enjoy folks! And please ask questions of Tom if there is anything you wish to know.

Per and Amund

Enjoy the photos, and look at the mark on that float! I've never seen that one before. An email was sent to Per asking a variety of questions. One of the question concerned the photo, "Looking In The Door." I asked Per if those very large floats to the right were Euros or Japanese floats, and if Japanese, how did the Norwegian fishermen get them? Hopefully Per will be able to answer those questions. If they are Euros, they appear to be the largest Euro glassballs I've ever seen. What will tomorrow bring?