THE GILL-NET COD FISHERY. 233 



and, as fast as the fish are removed, allow ing them to pass over the other side into the water, the 

 anchors, which reuiaiii firmly fixed in the bottom, holding them in position until the work is accom- 

 plished. When the end of the gang is reached it is thrown off the dory, and the nets remain setting 

 as before, needing no further attention until the next day. When niiderrunning, they may Le 

 taken across either the forward or after part of the dory, as circumstances may require. 



The time occupied iu underrunning depends somewhat on the smoothness of the sea, but rnoie 

 particularly on the amount of fish taken. When the catch does not exceed more than 4,000 to 

 5,000 pounds to the vessel, it is done iu about two hours, but when 15,(iOO to 18,000 pounds are 

 caught, about four hours are required. 



The success which has resulted from the use of nets in Ipswich Bay has been quite remarkable, 

 the catch being much more than that of the trawlers fishing on the same ground. The amount 

 taken for the first three trials, which were made in Massachusetts Bay, iu unfavorable weather 

 and with inferior nets, was 4,000, G,000, and 7,000 pounds, respectively. 



On a trip ending January 11, 1881, 35,000 pounds of cod were taken by the Northern Eagle, 

 8,000 pounds of which were caught in a single morning. Two other vessels, which were absent the 

 same length of time, fishing at the same place with trawls, got only 4,000 and 8,000 pounds, respect- 

 ively. After that time she made another trip, taking the same amount, 3~>,U(IO pounds, in four days 

 fishing, 18,000 pounds of which were caught in one day. On this day the schooner Christie Camp 

 bell, of Portsmouth, set ten trawls (each trawl having 1,000 hooks) close to the nets. The 10,000 

 hooks caught about 2,000 pounds of fish to the 18,000 taken in the nets. 



The Northern Eagle began fishing with the nets November 27, 1880, and as early as the 20th of 

 January, 1881, Lad caught 111,000 pounds of cod. None of the trawlers took more than one-third 

 of that amount, though they were fishing at the same place. The netted fish are larger than those 

 caught on trawls, averaging, during the first six "weeks' fishing, 23 pounds each. Among these were 

 individuals which weighed 75 and 80 pounds apiece, but no small fish, such as are frequently taken 

 on trawls, and can be sold only at a reduced price. This has been the invariable rule whenever 

 gill-nets have been used. No immature fish, such as are called "trash" by the fishermen, have 

 been taken. In addition to the advantages already mentioned, no bait is, of course, required for 

 net fishing, and not only is the expense for this article saved, but the loss of time aud tiouble inci- 

 dent to securing it and also to baiting trawls is dispensed with. In consideration of tliese facts it 

 is not strange that a lively interest was manifested in the fishing communities because of this inno- 

 vation, and it is not surprising that many vessels have been supplied with this kind of apparatus 

 for the winter cod fishery. The advantages that may be secured by our fishermen from the use of 

 these nets can hardly be overestimated. It is possible that they may be profitably employed on 

 some of the larger fishing grounds. There is no good reason to doubt the practicability of under- 

 running nets on the Banks, especially on the shoaler parts. They surely may be set and hauled on 

 any part where cod are now taken. The use of these, if good catches can be obtained .in them 

 on the off shore grounds, would obviate the necessity of leaving the Bank before a trip had been 

 secured, as must now be done by trawlers, iu order to obtain a supply of bait. It is the general 

 custom of the trawl fishermen to use fresh bait, and since this will not keep longer than two to three 

 weeks, it is easy to see that much time must be lost in seeking for it. Indeed, the supply is at all 

 times so uncertain that some vessels are not actually engaged iu fishing more than one-half of the 

 time, and it may be safely said that Bank fishermen do not spend much more than two-thirds of 

 their time on the fishing ground, the remainder being occupied in the search for bait. Again, a large 

 sum of money is paid for bait, and, all things considered, it is quite apparent that even if the daily 

 catch should be smaller than when trawls arc used, the profits of tlie trip would be much greater. 



