Chapter 483: New Fishing Project: Flowing-spike net

Ye Cheng quickly pressed down,

"Auntie, this money, once given is given; you still need to buy feed and such, which costs money. Besides, you don't think cutting wood on the mountain is free of labor costs, do you? Just take it."

Seeing Ye Cheng so firm, Li Dame could only accept it.

After Li Dame took it, Ye Cheng pulled out another 20,000 and placed it on the table,

"This is for your living expenses for half a year; until the chickens are ready, you still need to eat, right?"

Living expenses?

The Zhu brothers were a bit confused.

What kind of boss still gives living expenses?

"Brother Cheng, we can't take this; we already took the profits, we can't also take your living expenses."

"Just treat it as an advance on the profits; you can't work on an empty stomach."

"Alright, Brother Cheng, thanks!" Zhu Liwen took the money.

"Alright, you get started; I still have to go out to sea this afternoon."

With the matters in Xia Ling Village settled, Ye Cheng rushed straight to the dock.

Arriving at the dock, Xiao Hu and Duan Chunsheng had already prepared everything and were sitting on the boat chatting.

"Hey, the money-bringing kid is back." Upon seeing Ye Cheng, Duan Chunsheng teased.

"Uncle Duan, this is investment—money makes money."

"Fine, you make money from money; we'll ask the sea for money. Let's go, we're setting off."

Everyone was there; Xiao Hu started the boat and left the dock.

"Are we still using longline and fish traps today?" Ye Cheng asked.

"Yes, but we're adding another item today—look at this." Duan Chunsheng pointed to a pile of fishing nets on the deck.

Seeing so many nets gave Ye Cheng a headache—a tangled mess of countless lines.

Moreover, these fishing nets felt more complicated than trawl net lines.

"Is this for casting nets?" Ye Cheng asked.

"Brother, this is a flowing-spike net; Uncle Duan already explained it to me—just drop it in and wait." Xiao Hu interjected.

Then Duan Chunsheng explained to Ye Cheng: a flowing-spike net works by vertically positioning the whole net in the water, letting it drift like a wall with the current and wind, hence the name "flowing" spike net.

This fishing method is highly efficient, but it also has serious problems.

One is an extremely high bycatch rate, often entangling dolphins, whales, sea turtles, seabirds, and sharks.

Another is ghost nets: flowing-spike nets are easily lost or abandoned at sea. These "ghost nets" continue to drift for years, catching and killing marine life unchecked until they finally break apart.

Little White could easily have been injured by such a net.

"Uncle Duan, aren't these nets prohibited?"

Ye Cheng recalled that such nets are banned in many places because they're considered too vicious.

Duan Chunsheng knew Ye Cheng cared about marine protection, so he explained,

"It's the long ones that are banned; ours is only 300 meters, short, causing little harm. And if you're worried, we can increase the sinkers so it won't drift and can surely be recovered."

Hearing Duan Chunsheng say it's 300 meters, Ye Cheng had no objections—fishing inevitably affects the sea somewhat.

"Alright, we'll increase the sinkers and catch a bit less."

After settling these details, we quickly reached the open sea, where we first deployed the flowing-spike net.

Following Duan Chunsheng's experience, the flowing-spike net was laid along the current's direction; to avoid affecting navigation safety, the three chose a spot near an island.

Duan Chunsheng first threw one end of the net overboard; the float stayed on the surface, the sinker sank, and Xiao Hu drove the boat, pulling the net along with the water's force.

After the other end went down, a line of 300-meter floats stretched across the surface, and below, a shimmering net stood upright like a wall in the water.

"That's good; when a fish hits it, it will struggle, and the fine lines on the net will entangle it. We'll come haul the net in tomorrow morning."

Listening to Duan Chunsheng's explanation, Ye Cheng examined the net; today's sea was relatively calm, and after increasing the sinkers, the net barely moved, thus having a slightly smaller ecological impact.

After laying the first flowing-spike net, Xiao Hu drove forward a distance to create spacing, and Ye Cheng and Duan Chunsheng deployed the second net behind him.

Two flowing-spike nets in such a wide sea area—600 meters width—should have little impact.

This area is for the flowing-spike net; compared to fish traps, the impact is not great, so the three also dropped 50 fish traps near the island, where crabs and shrimp seem more abundant.

Then came ten sets of longlines; Duan Chunsheng suggested placing them farther out, Ye Cheng agreed, and they went another five nautical miles or so.

"Here will do," Duan Chunsheng suddenly said.

Xiao Hu stopped the boat, and Ye Cheng gazed out at the deep blue sea.

"Uncle Duan, this seems a bit deep."

"Hmm, it is deep; we'll adjust the floats smaller later to catch upper-layer fish. I just saw fish swimming by below the surface—this spot should be good."

Indeed, Ye Cheng glanced and saw a black shape swim past—about half a meter long, likely a big fish.

"Xiao Hu, release the line."

Xiao Hu adjusted the bow, then reduced speed; Ye Cheng and Duan Chunsheng paid out the line from behind, each set spaced 100 meters apart, stretching a full kilometer of longline.

After finishing the line, it was already past 3 p. m.; the three drove the boat back to the dock.

The boat docked, and coincidentally Lao He had just finished collecting someone else's goods; seeing Ye Cheng return, he stepped forward to chat,

"Old Two, I heard the Zhu brothers have been released; do you think they'll come cause trouble?"

Looking at him like that, he must be worried—afraid of not making money in business, and even more afraid of problems.

Xiao Hu gave a hehe laugh,

"Don't worry, Boss He; the Zhu brothers are now raising chickens in the mountains."

"Raising chickens? What does that mean?"

"My brother is cooperating with them to raise free-range chickens; those chickens are really tasty—I'll bring you one next chance I get."

Thinking of the taste of the free-range chicken he ate yesterday, Ye Cheng couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"Really? Is it true? You're saying it so exaggeratedly." Lao He looked doubtful.

"Really, next time I'll bring a few over, we'll all try them, and by the way help us promote them."

"Sure, if it's tasty, forget promotion—I'll first send ten to my father-in-law." Lao He patted his chest, making a thumping sound.

"Then it's settled; tomorrow I'll have Zhu Lao Da deliver them to you."

To open up sales for the free-range chicken, the most direct method is to give it to people to eat; this quality of free-range chicken, once tasted, is absolutely unforgettable.

Returning to the village, Ye Cheng called Zhu Lao Da; Zhu Lao Da had no mobile phone, so he called from the village, forcing Ye Cheng to wait ten minutes before he answered.