THE MACKEEEL-HOOK FISHERY. 283 



In this way a constant supply was kept on hand. Bait which had been ground was packed in 

 barrels full of pickle and covered up. 



The earlier bait-mills were very rude affairs, the teeth being common nails driven into the 

 barrel and into the sides of the mill and broken off, leaving jagged ends which tore the bait into 

 pieces. Later these were filed down to a point, while at the present time the teeth are arrow- 

 shaped, made of steel, and are attached to the wood by means of shanks made especially, for the 

 purpose. Bait-mills are now manufactured by various mechanics at the different ports, those 

 made by Adolph Voss, of Gloucester, being considered among the best. The cost of a good bait- 

 mill is from $8 to $15. 



According to Col. D. W. Low, the first bait-mill was made in 1820, of nails driven in lines 

 across two wooden cylinders and then sharpened. The first one made for grinding or cutting with 

 knives was made in 1822 by Gorham Burnham, and they were driven into cylinders in the same 

 manner. In 1823 he commenced putting in the knives in spiral form, which form has continued in 

 use ever since. He has made and sold in one year $1,600 worth at $10 each, besides making 

 anchors and other work. 



The first bait-mill taken to Southern Maine was bought in Gloucester in 1827 by Mr. John 

 Cameron, of Southport, for use on the schooner Echo.* 



The manner in which the labor of grinding bait was distributed among the different members 

 of the crew after bait-mills came into general use varied upon different vessels. Sometimes each 

 man had his "bait-day," upon which, in addition to his regular labor of fishing, he was expected 

 to grind bait for the use of the vessel. 



When fish were abundant the quantity used might be as great as 5 or 6 barrels a day. The 

 bait-cutter was expected to have a supply of bait ready, and when there was promise of good 

 fishing the next day would grind what he thought would be needed for the next day's fishing 

 during his watch at night. When he was not forehanded and the fish were abundant he suffered 

 considerable loss, since he was obliged to work at grinding the bait while the others were fishing, 

 and thus failed to obtain his share of the fish. 



On some vessels, in order to obviate this difficulty, it was customary for each man to grind a 

 barrel in his turn, the boys doing their share of the work by cutting the clam. bait. The order of 

 their succession was determined by their position at the vessel's rail, the man farthest forward 

 taking the first turn. On other vessels, if a man was not on deck in the morning to help hoist the 

 sails, the penalty for his absence was the grinding of a barrel of bait, a task which required about 

 an hour and a half for its performance. 



When the bait has been ground it is placed in barrels or in the bait chests. The ground bait 

 is an oily mass of yellowish color, resembling in consistency sausage meat. Before it is used 

 water is added to it, and it is then reduced to the consistency of porridge. It now becomes a 

 yellowish slushy liquid with an oily smell, and in this condition occupies about twice to three times 

 the space that it did before water was added. In this condition it is sometimes called "chum" or 

 " stosh." 



Mode of fishing. The present method employed by mackerel schooners of fishing with hook 

 and line while the schooner lies adrift was first practised in Massachusetts at the beginning of the 

 present century, and the use of toll-bait began about the same time. According to Capt. Epes W. 

 Merchant, the first man to introduce this method of fishing in Massachusetts Bay was John Story, 

 of Eockport, about the year 1804. 



The method of " tolling" or " chumming up" the fish by the use of this ground bait resembles 



* Statement of Daniel Cameron and Capt. John Gray, of Southport, Me., obtained by E. E. Kuril. 



