NETS: HOW TO MAKE, MEND AND PRESERVE THEM. By G.A. Steven.

1950 1st edition. Small 8vo (124 x 189mm). Ppviii,128. Explanatory b/w line illustrations. Light blue cloth, spine titled in black.

"The author deals here with the manual methods of net making and mending and his book is intended for the young nautical student [and] for professionals and amateurs alike." This is an extremely good introduction to net making aimed at people who would have to do a lot of it, professionally. Chapters include: The first steps; Setting up; How to shape a net - straigh selvedges, bating, fly-meshing, bating by doubling, doubling and fly-meshing, creasing; Sleeve nets, bag nets and square netting; How to mount a net - reeving, stapling, norselling, norselling and stapling, hitchings, stapling fly meshes; How to mend - side meshes, quick method, large mend fully described; Essential knots and hitches; Some things to make - net bags of various sorts, goal nets, hammocks, purse nets for rabbits, tennis nets, small otter trawl, whiting trawl; Preservation of nets - tanning, barking, cutch and bichromate treatment, Dr. Olie's method, copper soaps, tar, other preservatives, general care.