BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



11 



The total catch of cod at the Lofoten Islands in 1878, according to 

 the report of the superintendent, was 24,000,000 in number. Of these, 

 upwards of 14,000,000 fish were caught with nets, 9,250,000 with lines, 

 and 1,250,000 with deep bait.* 

 divided as follows: 



The men and boats engaged were 



!N"et-fishmg 



Line-fishing 



Deep-bait fishing. 

 Hired men 



Total 



Fisher- 

 men. 



13, 168 



7,258 

 2,297 

 3,311 



23, 034 



Crews. 



2,154 



1,689 



844 



4,687 



Boats. 



*2, 430 

 1,977 



t844 



5,251 



* 269 of these also occasionally used lines. 1 701 of these used no lines, and 143 used lines. 



There was an increase from the year before of 2,542 in the number of 

 net-fishermen, an increase of 417 in the number of deep-bait fishermen, 

 and a decrease of 1,504 in the number of line-fishermen. 



Highest total sum earned by net-fisherman $214 40 



Lowest total sum earned by net-fisherman 48 24 



Highest total sum earned by line-fisherman 120 60 



Lowest total sum earned by line-fisherman 32 16 



Highest total sum earned by deep-bait fisherman 85 76 



Lowest total sum earned by deep-bait fisherman 42 88 



The superiority of the nets over lines and trawls, as shown by the 

 respective earnings of the fishermen, has, as might be exi)ected, led to 

 an additional increase in that branch of the fishery, and in 1879 it is 

 stated that 2,532 boats, with crews numbering 14,322 men, fitted out for 

 the net-fishery. The larger amount earned by the net fishermen is due 

 to the better quality of fish taken by them more than to the increased 

 catch, though this is also generally obtained. It has been found that 

 the largest and fattest cod do not bite at the hook, but must be sought 

 after with gill-nets, and it therefore follows that netted fish furnish 

 a very superior article of merchandise. It sometimes requires but 210 

 cod caught in a net against 300 taken on a hook to furnish the same 

 amount of liver, about 26 J gallons, and the livers of the netted fish, yield 

 much more oil to the gallon than those of the trawl or line fish. In con- 

 clusion, it may be added that pollock are taken in gill-nets as well as cod. 

 During the winter season large schools of these fish visit the coast be- 

 tween the sixtieth and sixty- second parallels of latitude, and in the 

 summer and fall are found on the coasts of Nordland and Finmark, 

 where enormous quantities of them are taken by nets, trawls, and hand- 

 lines. 



2. — The Newfoundland fisheries. 



Gill-nets have long been used in the Newfoundland cod-fisheries, es- 

 pecially on the east and south coasts of the island, but the exact date of 



^ Trawls are probably meant by lines, and hand-lines by deep bait. 



