West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

Flatfish - fish which are laterally compressed and orient themselves in the water with their lateral surfaces or
sides towards the surface and bottom.
Flatlink - a piece of cut or cast hardware, generally oblong in shape, with leg diameter smaller in certain areas
to allow attachment of a G-hook; used where wires must be connected and disconnected frequently
Flood tide - incoming tide
Fo’c’sle (from: forecastle) - the forward part of a ship where sailor’s quarters are located
Footrope - on a non-pelagic net, a series of bobbins, tires or discs strung on chain or wire rope attached to
the bottom front of a bottom net to protect the net from damage. On a midwater net, the rope or wire
running along the front, bottom edge of the net.
Forward - towards the bow of a vessel
Fresh weight - the weight of the whole fish (or animal) as it was when alive. Also called round weight, whole
weight.
G
Galley - ship’s kitchen and/or mess hall
Gallows - structure from which trawl blocks are hung; separate units port and starboard
Gangion - The length of line that connects the hook to the groundline. It is often only two to three feet long.
Gantry - a frame structure, usually at the aft of a vessel, which supports pulleys (blocks) used in setting and
retrieving trawl nets
Gas bladder - a sac filled with air or similar gases in the body cavity of a fish. May or may not be attached to
the throat by a duct.
G-hook - a piece of cut or cast iron hardware in the shape of a “G”, used with a flatlink where wires must be
connected and disconnected frequently
Gill rakers - bony tooth like structures on the anterior edges of the gill arches. For protection or straining out
food.
Gilson - a single hookline (as distinguished from a multiple block) used to assist in setting, hauling and
moving gear on deck
Groundline/Mainline - The length of line to which all of the hooks are attached. This line is the “backbone”
of the gear
Gunnel or Gunwale - the upper edge of the side of a boat
Gurdy - special winch for hauling of longlines or trolling lines
Gypsyhead - a metal drum with a smooth concave surface, usually mounted on a winch. Several wraps of
line around the gypsy provide enough friction while it is turning to raise heavy loads smoothly because the
line slips and is easily controlled, like the friction on a clutch plate.
H - K
Halibut excluder - A divider located in the tunnel of a pot that restricts the size of the opening.
Hatch - an opening in a deck or bulkhead of a ship.
Haul - a catch of fish from one tow of a net or longline
Haulback - when the vessel lifts the net out of the fishing depth
Hawser - any large rope (generally five inches or more in circumference) used primarily for towing, mooring
or hauling
High grading - when a vessel puts up product but later discards it overboard in favor of a more valuable
product
Hook - Usually a three pronged grappling hook used to snag the trailer buoy line.
Hook Counts - The average number of hooks per segment of gear.
Horn Off - To knock organisms off of a hook using the butt of a gaff.
1/30/2004 A- 75