430 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



with considerable danger both to vessels and crews, and be continued 

 till near August, The shark fisheries are not very remunerative, either, 

 during the light summer nights from the beginning of June till the 

 middle of August, unless the fish are sought at a depth of from 150 to 

 300 fathoms, which is connected with great difficulties. These draw- 

 backs would not be found as far as the halibut fisheries are concerned, 

 which, properly speaking, can be carried on only from the middle of 

 May till some time in August, always at a considerable distance from 

 the coast, and therefore with less danger. The halibut, moreover, is a 

 much better and more delicate fish than the cod, and will always bring 

 a high price in places which are not easily supplied with fresh fish, 

 especially when they are smoked, as is done in America, or when 

 properly salted. 



The information relating to the American halibut-fisheries near Ice- 

 land I obtained in the following way : On June 10, 1884, an Ameri- 

 can vessel from Gloucester arrived at Reykjavik, and engaged a well- 

 known Icelander to accompany it on the trip, and my information is 

 based on the report of this person. About the middle of June he went 

 on board the schooner Concord, of Gloucester, 93£ tons, a beautifully 

 built vessel, which, as to construction, rigging, and sails, could not be 

 distinguished from an English pleasure boat. The captain, John Daye, 

 was a part owner of this schooner. It was specially equipped for the 

 halibut fisheries, and well furnished with provisions of every kind (the 

 men, for example, receiving fresh bread every day) ; the crew numbered 

 16, besides the Icelander referred to, and of this number 14 took part 

 in the fisheries, while 2 always remained on board. The cargo was 

 evenly distributed over 12 compartments without any passage between 

 them. These compartments were separated by boards, but were not 

 water-tight. With the exception of 2 compartments, one fore and the 

 other aft, they were all filled with salt. The 2 empty compartments 

 were intended for the first fish that were caught, and as the salt was 

 gradually used up the compartments were one after the other filled with 

 fish. 



Long-lines alone were used iu fishing ; there were on board 7 dories, 

 each for 2 men ; these dories were placed one inside the other in two 

 holds on the deck ; each boat had four oars, one mast, and one sail, and 

 was steered with an oar. While the long-line was cast or hauled in, 

 only 1 man rowed. These dories proved to be excellently adapted to 

 tin; purpose for which they were intended. Each dory had one long- 

 line, and the number of hooks on each was from 600 to 800. The dis- 

 tance between 2 hooks was scarcely 2 fathoms; the line was a 5 pound 

 line ; the hook-lines being 2£ yards long and composed of 2-pound lines. 

 The hooks were rather short and small, of blue color, with the barb at 

 the top, and of such a size as to take more than two fingers to span the 

 bend. They were very strong and bent but rarely. 



