BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMI88ION. 303 



at a depth of 'from 200 to 300 fathoms. In August they are round at 



a depth of 100 fathoms, and in September at from 40 to ."><> fath s. 



On the west coast the fishing season lasts from April to September, and 

 the outfit costs from $1,340 to $1,608. A single line generally meaa 

 ures 120 fathoms in length; sometimes three lines are tied together. 

 To the Hue is fastened the weight (weighing from 8 to 10 pounds), 

 aud underneath this there are 4 feet of a small chain, which runs in 

 a swivel on the hook, which is about 10 or 12 inches long, the distance 

 between the poiut and the main part of hook beiug 3 or 4 inches. The 

 Hue is carried out over a block whose disk must fit exactly, so thai the 

 line does not get between. The block is open at the top, and lias a 

 bolt which can be fastened to the railing. 



As soon as the fishing place has been reached the boats east auchor. 

 The auchor generally weighs from 112 to 100 pouuds, and has J 5 or 16 

 fathoms of chain attached to it as a protection. A deep trough or val- 

 ley at the bottom of the sea with muddy or light-clay bottom is the 

 favorite haunt of the Greenland shark. From this trough they like to 

 go along the slopes of the valley and into shallower water to seek food, 

 and to return again to the depths. The Greenland shark is said to 

 scent its prey at a long distance, and the fishermen say that it will go 

 a long way for its food. After a vessel has cast anchor it may some- 

 times lie for some time before sharks will approach and bite. The small 

 fish generally come first, and are followed by the larger aud fatter fish, 

 whose appearance marks the approaching end of the fisheries. 



For bait seal-fat and horse-flesh are used. Horse-flesh should first 

 be kept for some time in a mixture of blood and salt until it is half 

 decayed. Smoked, horse-flesh and young seals, kept in spirits of wine, 

 are also used for bait. The hook should be entirely hid by meat and 

 fat. Duriug a fishing season there are used on an average 1£ barrels 

 of meat, 1 barrel of seal-fat, and 2 or 3 young seals. These are cut in 

 pieces, and these separate pieces may, of course, be used several times. 

 A single seal-head has occasionally been instrumental in catching enough 

 fish to yield 20 or 30 barrels of liver. 



When the weight has reached the bottom, a few fathoms of the line 

 are hauled in, holdiug it firmly outside the block, so that one can notice 

 readily when a shark is beginning to play round the hook. A piece of 

 the line is then slowly hauled in and let go agaiu, thus enticing the 

 shark to seize the hook and get caught. It is easy enough to haul in 

 the fish, for it offers no other resistance than to turn round; but tins 

 does not interfere with the hauling in, as the hook will turn on its 

 swivel. As soon as the fish has beeu brought to the surface of the water, 

 a knife with a long handle and a blade about 2 feet long is driven into 

 its back; after the knife has been firmly inserted in the body of the fish, 

 the head is raised high enough to insert a large iron hook, instead of 

 the pieces of chain used in former times. Some teu years ago the fish 

 were attached to the vessel by means of chains, while now they are 



