New gear handling systems for coastal purse seining.

The paper is describing a new gear handling system for coastal purse seiners. The system consist of a hollow manuverable ring needle through which the purse wire is passing. Solid type rings can be used since the rings will remain on the ring needle or purse wire during the whole operation. The ring bridles are passing an open-topped power block. This system is working very well in combination with the automated net stacking system developed by FTFI during 1976-78. and it is possible to haul and stack the net with only two men and greatly reduce the strain of the work