Selvage is an edge construction in fishing netting. For importers, wholesalers, and commercial fishing gear buyers, it is a specification field that can affect how a panel is handled, joined, mounted, and inspected. Writing only “with selvage” leaves unanswered questions about its location, number of rows, material, twine size, color, and relationship to the main netting.
This guide explains SSTB vs DSTB fishing net terminology and how to request single or double selvage at the top and bottom. It does not prescribe one construction for every net. Buyers should match an approved product or confirm a new design with the manufacturer because terminology and supported constructions can vary by market and supplier.
SSTB
Single Selvage on Top and Bottom, with the detailed edge construction confirmed by specification.
DSTB
Double Selvage on Top and Bottom, with layout and materials confirmed by drawing or sample.
What Does Fishing Net Selvage Mean?
Fishing net selvage is a defined border along an edge of a netting panel. It provides an identifiable finishing area where the body netting ends and may support subsequent joining, mounting, or handling. In fishing-gear references, selvage may also be written “selvedge.” The spelling difference does not establish a different construction.
A selvage is not automatically a mounting rope, floatline, leadline, or completed net assembly. Those components can be attached later and need separate specifications. It is also not necessarily made from the same twine as the main netting. When a different material or twine size is required, the buyer should state it explicitly.
Depending on the product, selvage may be placed at the top and bottom, along the sides, or in another confirmed position. This article focuses on SSTB and DSTB—the common abbreviations for top-and-bottom edge instructions.
What Does SSTB Mean?
SSTB commonly means Single Selvage on Top and Bottom. It tells the supplier that a single selvage construction is required along both the identified top edge and bottom edge of the netting. The word “single” relates to the edge construction, not to monofilament material and not to the knot in the body mesh.
An SSTB fishing net specification still needs supporting details. The buyer should identify the selvage twine or line, its size, color, and the connection to the body netting if these differ from the supplier's confirmed standard. A close-up photograph or approved sample helps prevent “single selvage” from being interpreted differently.
What Does DSTB Mean?
DSTB commonly means Double Selvage on Top and Bottom. It calls for a double selvage construction at both edges. The precise layout—such as double row, double mesh, or another supported method—should be confirmed with a drawing or sample instead of inferred from the abbreviation alone.
A double selvage fishing net generally contains more edge construction than a comparable single-selvage panel. That can influence edge weight, handling, and price. DSTB does not by itself certify a finished net's strength, durability, or service life; those depend on the complete combination of materials, dimensions, connections, finishing, and use.
Single vs Double Selvage Construction
The practical difference is the amount and arrangement of netting at the border. SSTB identifies a single edge construction, while DSTB identifies a double construction. The body mesh can otherwise retain the same material, diameter or denier/ply, mesh size, knot type, depth, and length.
| Field | SSTB | DSTB |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Single Selvage on Top and Bottom | Double Selvage on Top and Bottom |
| Edge construction | Single confirmed selvage | Double confirmed selvage |
| Edge material use | Generally lower in a like-for-like comparison | Generally higher in a like-for-like comparison |
| Handling | Less edge bulk | More substantial edge structure |
| Strength claim | No fixed performance follows from the code alone | |
| Buyer evidence | Confirm twine, layout, position, and approved close-up or sample | |
Do not compare SSTB and DSTB quotations unless the remaining fields and quotation unit are aligned. A price per kilogram can respond differently from a price per panel because additional edge material changes the composition of the sales unit.
Top and Bottom Must Be Identified
The letters TB indicate top and bottom, but the parties must agree which edges those are. On loose diamond-mesh netting, a panel can be rotated during handling. Mark an orientation drawing with “top,” “bottom,” “length,” and “depth,” and retain the same labels throughout sample approval and production.
For a finished gill net, the top normally relates to the floatline side and the bottom to the weighted side, but the selvage remains separate from the rope and component specification. State how it will connect to the mounting arrangement and whether the manufacturer supplies loose netting or the complete assembled net.
If side selvage is also required, say so separately. SSTB or DSTB should not be assumed to include the two vertical sides. Likewise, “top only” and “bottom only” are distinct instructions that should not be shortened to a standard TB code.
Strength, Durability, and Handling
Selvage can provide a defined edge for mounting and handling, but a code is not a performance guarantee. Edge strength depends on material, twine size, construction, knotting or joining, finishing, load direction, and how the panel is attached to other components.
A double construction may be selected when the buyer wants a more substantial edge or the established product uses one. However, it should not be described as twice as strong or twice as durable without a defined test and comparable samples. Additional construction also creates more edge bulk and may affect finished weight and packing.
For inspection, check continuity along the edge, consistent construction, correct position, agreed twine, and secure connection to the body netting. If mechanical performance is part of the contract, define the specimen, test method, and acceptance criteria instead of using SSTB or DSTB as a substitute for test requirements.
When Is SSTB Commonly Specified?
SSTB may be chosen where the buyer's established design calls for a straightforward top-and-bottom edge with less bulk. It can suit loose panels intended for later assembly when one selvage meets the mounting and handling requirements. It may also be retained because local distributors and end users recognize that construction.
The decision should be based on the approved design, not a universal assumption that single selvage is the economy version. Material, mesh, dimensions, packing, and assembly can have greater influence on the complete order. If replacing a current product, use its sample and records as the primary reference.
When Is DSTB Commonly Specified?
DSTB may be requested when the established net requires a double edge at the top and bottom, when buyers want a more substantial mounting border, or when downstream assembly expects that construction. It can be relevant where repeated handling occurs at the panel edges, provided that the actual materials and connections are suitable.
Buyers should not add DSTB automatically to every inquiry. Confirm whether the customer market expects it, whether the supplier's construction matches the reference, and how the extra edge material affects panel weight and packing. Obtain a representative sample before approving a change from SSTB.
Relationship With SK/DK and LWSF/DWSF
Selvage, knot type, and stretching direction describe different fields. SK and DK identify single- or double-knot construction at mesh junctions. Our single knot vs double knot guide explains that distinction. A net can use SSTB with either an approved SK or DK body construction.
LWSF and DWSF identify lengthway or depthway stretching orientation. The LWSF vs DWSF guide explains how direction affects dimensional interpretation. Orientation matters because the buyer must identify which physical edges receive top-and-bottom selvage.
Do not infer one field from another. A phrase such as “DK, DSTB, LWSF” contains three independent instructions, each of which needs a confirmed definition. Write them in separate RFQ rows and attach a diagram so the relationship between body mesh and edge construction is clear.
Selvage for Monofilament and Multifilament Netting
Both nylon monofilament netting and nylon multifilament fishing nets can include a selvage requirement. The body material does not determine whether SSTB or DSTB is correct.
State whether the selvage uses the same material as the body and provide its diameter or denier/ply where relevant. If the edge has a different color or heavier construction, list that explicitly. Avoid instructions such as “normal strong selvage,” which cannot be checked consistently during quotation or inspection.
How to Specify Selvage in an RFQ
Write the code and full phrase together: “SSTB — Single Selvage on Top and Bottom” or “DSTB — Double Selvage on Top and Bottom.” Then define the details that allow the supplier to make and inspect it:
- Netting material, line diameter or denier/ply, mesh, knot, length, and MD
- Selvage location: top and bottom, sides, or another labeled edge
- Single or double construction with close-up reference
- Selvage material, size, color, and mesh or row construction where applicable
- Connection to body netting and later mounting requirements
- Stretching direction and dimensional measurement condition
- Loose panel or finished-net assembly
- Packing, quantity, and quotation unit
The fishing net specification guide covers the other RFQ fields. For buyer-specific edge, dimensions, or packing instructions, send the controlled requirements through our custom fishing net manufacturing page.
Simple Purchasing Specification Examples
These examples show a clear format. The bracketed values are not recommended configurations and must be replaced with buyer-confirmed requirements.
Monofilament panel: PA monofilament [diameter]; mesh [value, unit, method]; DK [confirmed]; length [value and condition]; depth [MD]; LWSF; SSTB — single selvage on top and bottom using [material/size/color]; packing [format].
Multifilament panel: nylon multifilament [denier/ply]; mesh [value, unit, method]; SK or DK [confirmed]; DWSF; depth [MD and condition]; DSTB — double selvage top and bottom matching approved close-up; quantity [amount/unit].
Finished gill net: body netting [complete specification]; DSTB [confirmed edge construction]; top edge connected to [floatline instruction]; bottom edge connected to [weighted-line instruction]; hung length and finished depth [confirmed]; floats, sinkers, color, labels, and packing [separate fields].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SSTB and DSTB?
SSTB commonly means single selvage on the top and bottom, while DSTB means double selvage on those edges. Confirm the actual edge layout with the supplier because abbreviations can vary.
Is fishing net selvage the same as a floatline or leadline?
No. Selvage is an edge construction in the netting. Floatlines, leadlines, and other mounting components are separate parts that require their own specifications.
Is DSTB always stronger than SSTB?
DSTB provides more edge construction, but the abbreviation alone does not establish a strength value. Material, twine size, layout, connection, and test conditions must be compared.
Can SSTB use a thicker twine than the net body?
It can if the supported and approved specification calls for it. State the selvage material and size separately rather than assuming a supplier's standard.
Does top-and-bottom selvage include the side edges?
Not automatically. TB refers to top and bottom. Specify side selvage as a separate instruction and label all edges on a drawing.
How should a buyer inspect selvage?
Check location, continuity, single or double construction, twine and color, and its connection to the body netting against the approved sample and specification.
Confirm the Edge Before Quotation Approval
A useful selvage specification defines more than SSTB or DSTB. It identifies the top and bottom, single or double construction, material, twine size, color, orientation, and relationship to the finished assembly. Keeping those details consistent from RFQ through sample approval helps buyers compare equivalent offers and prevents an undefined edge from becoming a production assumption.