Definition

Noun: A trammel net is a specific type of fishing net constructed with three layers of netting. The two outer layers have a coarse, large mesh, while the single, inner layer is a fine, loose mesh. This design allows fish to pass through the first coarse layer, push the fine inner layer through a hole in the second outer layer, forming a pocket or bag (known as "trammeling" or "bagging") from which they cannot easily escape.

Usage

A trammel net is used as a passive, stationary fishing gear, typically set vertically in the water column. It is designed to entangle or "bag" fish rather than gill them, making it effective for catching a variety of species, particularly flatfish.

Examples

• The fisherman set a trammel net along the seabed to catch flounder.
• Using a trammel net is considered a selective fishing method for certain species.
• The three-layer design of the trammel net creates pockets that trap the fish.

Advanced Usage

• "To set a trammel net": To deploy the net in the water.
• "To haul/retrieve a trammel net": To pull the net back into the boat to collect the catch.

Variants and Related Words

• Trammel (noun, verb): Can refer to the net itself or, more generally, to something that restricts or impedes free movement. As a verb, it means to confine, restrain, or catch.
• Gill net (noun): A related but different type of fishing net with a single layer of mesh designed to catch fish by the gills. It is distinct from a three-layer trammel net.
• Entangling net (noun): A broader category of nets, including trammel nets, that catch fish by snagging or entangling them.

Synonyms

• Trammel (in the specific context of fishing gear)
• Three-layer net

Related Phrases

• "Bagged in a trammel net": Describes the state of a fish caught in the inner pocket of the net.

Noun

1. a fishing net with three layers; the outer two are coarse mesh and the loose inner layer is fine mesh