This is a roller net also known as a disc net or a rock hopper net. This type of net is used to trawl the bottom of the ocean floor where there are rocks and rough jagged bottom which would tear the net to pieces. The discs are made from punched out tires. They roll over that jagged bottom and keep the twine of the net just off the bottom of the ocean. In this way the trawlers can fish in areas they never would dare to fish without the rock hoppers because they would spend a week mending the shredded net. That rough bottom was the type of bottom that fish used to hide, now there is no escape.
Rock Hopper/Roller Net, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Joe, this is the type of information that first drew me to your site. You provide an “education” to those of us who are transplants and want to learn more about Gloucester, the fishing industry, and all the beauty of this cape. THANKS! Keep up the good work. Your very varied interests, your enthusiasm, and your skill with the camera and video are an asset to Gloucester.
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Thanks Karen. I’m glad you dig it!
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Unfortunately …this will be something you find in museums since the NMFS is trying toput all of the fishermen out of business…garvey
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