Underwater traps or nets linked to a surface buoy by a weak line. To haul the gear, a messenger device would be sent down the weak line along with a stronger hauling line. The messenger device would attach to the hauling line to the bottom gear for retrieving the gear. The premise is that a large whale would easily break free from a weak line suspended in the water column and the stronger line needed for hauling could be located out of harm’s way (Werner et al. 2006).