well i'm special
I assumed this might be the case, but I wasn't going to say anything.
As for the net, I found this in a walkthrough:
" -Silver Net-
Once Nook's has upgraded (see the Nook's section
below), every so often he will stock a silver tool.
Slightly larger than the normal Net and made of sleek
silver thread, it slices through the air more quietly,
making it easier to catch bugs."