West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

Skate bottom - a fabric square with lines on the corners to tie it into a bundle once a longline “skate” has
been coiled onto it.
Skate or Mag markers - Markers in the groundline that separate the sections of gear. These may be
flourescent tape woven onto the line, knots, line splices, carabineers, or magazine (mag) clips.
Skates/Tubs/Coils - Terms used to describe the smaller segments of gear within a set or a magazine.
Spatial - Referring to a unit of space used in random sampling. For example: a third of a bin, or a section of
trawl alley, are spatial units.
Species composition sample - to sort a defined weight of catch such that each organism sampled for is
grouped by family or by species and to determine the number and weight of the organisms in each group
Spring line - a mooring line attached amidships
SSB - “Single Side Band” radio used for long distance contact
Stack - This term is used on pot vessels to refer to pots stacked on the back deck.
Starboard - the right side of a ship (when one is looking forward)
Stern - the aft or back end of a vessel
Stern ramp (slip) - a sloping ramp in the stern of a trawler between the deck and the water line, through
which the net is set and hauled.
Stern trawler - any of various sized fishing vessels which trawl a conical shaped mesh net through the water,
haul it up a ramp through the stern of the ship, empty, and process the catch to make a wholesale fish
product. These vessels may fish for a month or more at sea without support.
String - Pots deployed individually and are not attached to one another in any way. This term refers to pots
set at a similar time in a similar area and depth. What a skipper calls a string varies considerably between
vessels. Strings are analogous to sets.
Sub-sample - the weight of catch designated by the Observer which weighs less than the sample weight and
is processed for a supplemental task to determining the composition of a haul, such as sampling for average
weight.
T - Z
Table - Some vessels have a sorting table on the back deck that pivots on one axis. The contents of a pot are
dumped onto the table, and the table is swung out of the way to re-launch the pot.
TAC - “Total Allowable Catch” - annual harvest levels based on biological, economic and social factors
Taper - to cut webbing according to a given formula for fitting into a trawl
Tare - a deduction from gross weight to obtain net weight. Usually made to allow for the weight of a
container.
Temporal - Referring to a unit of time used in random sampling. For example: one hour of processing time,
or systematic intervals of ten minutes, are examples of temporal units.
Trawl - a cone shaped net, towed through the water to catch fish
Trawl Alley - the central passage on a trawl vessel where the codend is placed after haulback
Trawl Doors - often referred to as “doors,” these are two metal plates, each attached to a main wire, designed
to keep the mouth of the net open while fishing
Trip - the time period from when the vessel leaves harbor until it returns to harbor to offload product or
catch
Trip Limit – The amount of a catch category that a vessel is allowed to retain by trip.
Tuning/Overhauling gear - Term used to describe the work involved in straightening hooks, replacing
gangions, or splicing the damaged groundlines.
Tunnel - Short mesh-lined openings on two or three sides of a pot. These are the entrances to the trap. Fish
and crab are able to swim in but are unable to make their way back out due to the fingers/triggers.
Under way - vessel in forward motion, running. According to Coast Guard regulation, a vessel is under way
A-78
1/30/2004