38 



BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



liandle them very skilfully. I also notice that as far as I have seen in 

 Labrador the fishing boats are in most cases American build, "lap- 

 streak," handsome, able boats, and the men are proud of them. 



During January, February, and March last, three cargoes of codfish 

 •were exported from Provincetown, IMass., to Portngal, but owing to 

 to the very high duty ($2.50 a quintal) the shipment did not realize 

 much, if any, more than if sold in the home markets. Yet, from these 

 shipments a number of interesting results have grown. The crews of 

 the three vessels mentioned were Portuguese fishermen that had long 

 fished on the Grand Banks in vessels from Provincetown. On arriving 

 at Lisbon, and speaking of the work, catch, &c., of the American fish- 

 ing vessels, some persons became interested, engaging as many of the 

 crew as they could to go in vessels for them and show them the Yankee 

 way of fishing. An agent was sent over and four vessels were pur- 

 chased, one each from Plymouth and Wellfleetand two from Province- 

 town, and fitted for the Grand Banks, the crew being Portuguese fisher- 

 men of Provincetown. These four vessels secured full fares of codfish,, 

 which were taken direct to Lisbon, the crew receiving $400 each and 

 their passage back to the United States by steamer. Vessels that were 

 fitted at Portugal, and manned by men from there, are reported as re- 

 turning with no more than half fares. Lately an agent has been sent 

 to Massachusetts to engage crews for next season ; boats (dories) have 

 been ordered from Salisbury, Mass., and a number of vessels from Lis- 

 bon will early in the spring come to Massachusetts for supplies and. 

 men, going from here to the Grand Banks, thence to Portngal. It is ex- 

 pected that a large ])ortion, if not all, of the Portuguese fishermen of 

 Provincetown will engage in these vessels from their old country. 

 This demonstrates the superiority of Xew England methods of fishing; 

 over those of the Old World. 



Eectipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in September, 1885. 



