MSC 132/134

Fishing Gear Technology I & II

Calculating and Cutting Netting Tapers
Excerpts from:
Calculations for Fishing Gear Designs, A.L. Fridman, Fishing News Books Ltd., Surrey,
England. 1986
FAO Catalogue of Small Scale Fishing Gear, Edited by C. Nedelec, Fishing News Books
Ltd. & Whitefriars Press Ltd., London, England. 1975
Fishermans Workbook, Compiled by J. Prado, Fishing News Books, Oxford, England.
1990
How to Make & Set Nets, John Garner, Fishing News Books Ltd., Surrey, England. 1986.
Machine Made Netting
Cutting and Shaping Netting
1. The number of meshes at the start of the cut.
2. The number of meshes required at the end of the
cut.
3. The length or depth in meshes of the section to be
cut.
All Meshes or Transverse
E1 = Length (0)
Base of right angle
All Points or Siders
E2 = Depth (90)
Normal Direction
All Bars
45 degree angle
Resultant Angles for Net Tapers
Assuming Meshes Are Hung At 71% E1 Value of 50%
Common Cutting Rates & Taper Ratios
Cuts: Netting Example
Body Tapers
Guidelines and Formula
1. You can only cut or calculate a cut by evaluating
one side of the intended shape or piece of netting .
2. Always establish which way your E values are
oriented.
3. The body taper is only used if the material to be
cut is less than the depth of the netting.

Body Taper =
2 x Cut
Depth - Cut
=
Bars
Points
Cut =
Bottom - Top
2
Body Taper: Calculations
Body Taper =
2 x Cut
Depth - Cut
=
Bars
Points
Cut =
Bottom - Top
2
180 meshes
140 meshes
30 mesh
2 Cut = 2 x 20 = 40 = 4 bars
Depth Cut 30 20 10 1 points
E1
Body Tapers
Calculating the Cut
1. For calculation purposes when applying the cut
formula, always assume the bottom of the netting
piece is represented by the larger mesh count.
2. When using the cut formula - if only one side of
the netting piece will be cut, do not divide by 2.
Cut =
Bottom - Top
2
180 meshes
140 meshes
30
meshes
E1
CUT CUT
180 140 = 40 = 20
2 2
Body Taper: Cuts
Body Taper =
2 x Cut
Depth - Cut
=
Bars
Points
Cut =
Bottom - Top
2
2 Cut = 2 x 40 = 80 = 8 bars
Depth Cut 60 40 20 2 points
E1
180 meshes
140 meshes
60 mesh
Cut = 180 140 = 40 = 40
When using the cut formula - if
only one side of the netting piece
will be cut, do not divide by 2.
Body Taper: Cuts
Body Taper =
2 x Cut
Depth - Cut
=
Bars
Points
Cut =
Bottom - Top
2
2 Cut = 2 x 40 = 80 = 8 bars
Depth Cut 30 40 -10 -1 points
E1
180 meshes
140 meshes
30 mesh
The body taper is only used if
the material to be cut is less
than the depth of the netting.
Cut = 180 140 = 40 = 40
Body Tapers: Calculations
Body Tapers: Calculations
200 M
Body Tapers: Calculations
200 M
Body Taper = 2 Cut
Depth Cut
Cut = Top Bottom 2 = 340 100 2 = 120

Body Taper = 2 x 120 200 120 = 240 Bars
80 Points
= 3 Bars 1 Point
Body Taper = 3 Bars 1 Point however, even tapers are easier and neater to sew.
A 6 Bar to 2 Point Body Taper (4B1P, 2B1P) is the same as a 3Bar to 1Point taper.
=
Bars
Points
Body Taper Examples
3 Bars
1 Point
2 Bars
1 Point
4 Bars
1 Point
Jib Tapers
Guidelines and Formula
1. You can only cut or calculate a cut by evaluating
one side of the intended shape or piece of netting .
2. Always establish which way your E values are
oriented.
3. The jib taper is only used if the material to be
cut is greater than the depth of the netting.
4. Length replaces the cut on jib tapers.
Jib Taper =
(2 x Depth) - 2
Length -Depth + 1
Bars
Meshes
=
Jib Tapers: Calculations
Jib Taper =
(2 x Depth) - 2
Length -Depth + 1
Bars
Meshes
=
20 P
38 Meshes
E1
The base length of the right triangle represents the cut length.
(2 x 20) 2 38 2 bars
38 20 + 1 19 1 mesh
= =
Jib Tapers: Calculations
Tapers do not always work out perfectly. Your critical thinking skills are
essential to properly apply various tapers and/or cutting rates.
(2 x Depth) - 2
Length -Depth + 1
Jib
Taper
Bars
Mesh
= =
(2 x 36.5) 2 73 2 71
73 36.5 + 1 36.5 + 1 37.5
1.89 Bars 2
1 Mesh 1
= =
=
All Bar Tapers
Guidelines and Formula
1. You can only cut or calculate a cut by evaluating
one side of the intended shape or piece of netting .
2. Always establish which way your E values are
oriented.
3. If the cut or length is equal to the depth of
the netting you would have an all bar (AB)
taper.
4. If statement #3 is true there are no calculations
necessary.
Prove the Taper which is
indicated on the circled
panel shown in the trawl
plans (A15) to the right.
Tapers: Calculations
31M
35M
62M
4M
31M
2 Cut
Depth Cut
2 x 4
31 4
Keys to Finding and/or Proving the Taper:
You can only cut and/or calculate a cut by evaluating one side of the intended
shape or piece of netting at a time.
An All Bar (AB) taper will yield a 45 degree angle, which means the Cut is
equal to the Depth of the netting.
Cut = Top Bottom = 66 62 = 4 Body Taper =
Body Taper =
8 Bars
27 Pts.
2 Bars
6.75 Pts.
2 Bars
7 Points
= = =
Taper Examples
Cutting Rate: 1N 2B
(1 Point 2 Bars)
Cutting Rate: 1T 2B
(1 Mesh 2 Bars)
Cutting Rate: 1N 2T
(1 Point 2 Meshes)
Drop Tapers
5 Meshes to 7 Meshes
or
1 1 1 1
1 2 1 2
Drop Loops Added
Identify the Tapers Shown Below
CUT LOSS