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RULES FOR DETERMINING MINIMUM MESH SIZES WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 5 A. Description of gauges 1. The gauges to be used for determining mesh size shall be 2 mm thick, flat, of durable material and capable of retaining their shape. They shall have either a series of parallel-edged sides connected by intermediate tapering edges with a taper of one to eight on each side, or only tapering edges with the taper specified above. They shall have a hole at the narrowest extremity.

2. Each gauge shall be inscribed on its face with the width in millimetres both on the parallel-sided section, if any, and of the tapering section. In the case of the latter, the width shall be inscribed at intervals of 1 mm and shall be indicated at regular intervals. B. Use of the gauge 1. The net shall be stretched in the direction of the long diagonal of the meshes.

2. A gauge as described in paragraph A shall be inserted by its narrowest extremity into the mesh opening in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the net.

3. The gauge shall be inserted into the mesh opening either manually or using a weight or dynamometer, until it is stopped at the tapering edges by the resistance of the mesh.

1. The portion of net to be measured shall form a series of 20 consecutive meshes running in the direction of the long axis of the net.

2. Meshes situated less than 50 cm from lacings, ropes or codline shall not be measured. This distance shall be measured perpendicular to the lacings, ropes or codline with the net stretched in the direction of that measurement. Nor shall any mesh be measured which has been mended or broken or has attachments to the net fixed at that mesh.

3. By way of derogation from 1, the meshes to be measured need not be consecutive if the conditions set out in 2 apply.

4. Nets shall be measured only when wet and unfrozen. D. Measurements of each mesh The size of each mesh shall be the width of the gauge at the point where the gauge is stopped when it is used in accordance with paragraph B. E. Determination of the mesh size of the net The mesh size of the net shall be the arithmetical mean, in millimetres, of the measurements of the total number of meshes selected and measured as provided for in paragraphs C and D, the arithmetical mean being rounded up to the nearest millimetre.

1. The inspector shall measure one series of 20 meshes, selected in accordance with paragraph C, inserting the gauge manually without using a weight or dynamometer. The mesh size of the net shall then be determined in accordance with paragraph E. If the calculation of the mesh size shows that the mesh size does not appear to comply with the rules in force, two additional series of 20 meshes selected in accordance with paragraph C shall be measured. The mesh size shall then be recalculated in accordance with paragraph E, taking into account the 60 meshes already measured. Without prejudice to 2 this shall be the mesh size of the net.

2. If the master of the vessel contests the mesh size determined in accordance with 1, such measurement shall not be considered for the determination of the mesh size and the net shall be remeasured, using a weight or dynamometer attached to the gauge; the choice of weight or dynamometer shall be left to the discretion of the inspector. The weight shall be fixed (using a hook) to the hole in the narrowest extremity of the gauge. The dynamometer may either be fixed to the hole in the narrowest extremity of the gauge or be applied at the widest extremity of the gauge. The accuracy of the weight or dynamometer shall be certified by the appropriate national authority. For nets of a mesh size of 35 mm or less as determined in accordance with 1, a force of 19,61 newtons (equivalent to a mass of two kilograms) shall be applied and a force of 49,03 newtons (equivalent to a mass of five kilograms), shall be applied for other nets. For the purposes of determining the mesh size in accordance with paragraph E, only one series of 20 meshes shall be measured wherever a weight or dynamometer is used.