Spyro
Well-Known Member
Can't say about the line but we did see lots of them and all anchored to the seabed. We were curious as well thats why I took the photo.
PuffTheMagicDragon
Well-Known Member
That is precisely why the Maltese fishermen first soak the palm fronds. The soaking kills what little buoyancy they have. That having been achieved, they are NOT tied directly to the float but around three metres or so below it. That leaves just the float itself at the surface.
The photo also seems to indicate that not much consideration was given to the relation between the length of the line and the depth. Over here the lengths are prepared with the charted depths in mind. Not much scope is added. In the unlikely event that the line proves to be too long, some of the excess is coiled and then made off. It is in the fisherman's interest to ensure that he does not lose a float through the line snagging a propellor.
Having said that, it is not unknown for some fishermen to deliberately leave a length of floating line attached to some of their floats as a trap for 'poachers'. Knowing the numbers / letters / markings of these floats they can approach with caution. A 'poacher' would not know about them and could pick them up with his prop: not very nice if there is much of a sea running.
Basic advice: ALWAYS try to pass upwind / up-current of these floats because any loose rope ends will be floating downstream. If, however, you notice something like in the photo, then take that as an indication that the fisherman working that area has an unpredictable / irresponsible manner of operation and send someone forward to keep a good lookout especially if the sea is flat. (The presence of wind and current is usually sufficient to stretch the line away from the surface).
The photo also seems to indicate that not much consideration was given to the relation between the length of the line and the depth. Over here the lengths are prepared with the charted depths in mind. Not much scope is added. In the unlikely event that the line proves to be too long, some of the excess is coiled and then made off. It is in the fisherman's interest to ensure that he does not lose a float through the line snagging a propellor.
Having said that, it is not unknown for some fishermen to deliberately leave a length of floating line attached to some of their floats as a trap for 'poachers'. Knowing the numbers / letters / markings of these floats they can approach with caution. A 'poacher' would not know about them and could pick them up with his prop: not very nice if there is much of a sea running.
Basic advice: ALWAYS try to pass upwind / up-current of these floats because any loose rope ends will be floating downstream. If, however, you notice something like in the photo, then take that as an indication that the fisherman working that area has an unpredictable / irresponsible manner of operation and send someone forward to keep a good lookout especially if the sea is flat. (The presence of wind and current is usually sufficient to stretch the line away from the surface).