Since nets were made of cotton, which was very precious in those days, those used in the sea were sometimes carried over by ship and used for hobiki net-fishing. Such nets were called “ agari-ami. ” Nets used in the sea tend not to corrode thanks to the salt in sea water. So no corrosion proof treatment with persimmon tannin was given to them. Therefore, nets used in the seas were first coated with persimmon tannin and net-makers remade their shape to be suitable for hobiki fishing on Kasumigaura.
Now only one net-maker remains in Kasumigaura-machi. He said, “Net-makers would be turned away unless they make nets which can catch fish well.”
Net-makers also repaired broken nets. Fishermen called net-makers when their nets were “injured” or out of shape. Then the net-maker went to the fisherman's house and repaired them on a rush mat spread in the yard. Since repair work was often done at night after fishing was over, it was very cold and hard work especially in winter time.