432 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



farther tban the distance stated above, more especially because fishing 

 at a greater depth is slower, and requires more exertion on the part of 

 the fishermen. In many places two or three hauls were made in succes- 

 sion, the vessel often making no more than from 3 to 5 miles (English) 

 between the hauls. 



As soon as the fish had been brought on board, they were put in boxes 

 which had been placed on deck for that purpose; but fishing was goiug 

 on without interruption as long as the weather permitted. As quickly 

 as could be done under the circumstances, a beginning was made in pre- 

 paring the fish. A large board was placed with the upper end against the 

 rail, and the lower end on the deck. A rope' was then fastened to the 

 tail of the fish, and it was drawn up on the board, the tail upward and 

 the head downward. First a cut was made near the tail, and the sides 

 were cut from the bones. The fins went with the sides, but were, together 

 with the entrails, removed later. After all that could be used as bait 

 had been cut oft' from the head, the rest was thrown overboard, because 

 the catches were so large that it was not needed. The fish was then 

 washed clean, and the sides were, without cutting the skin, salted down 

 in boxes in the hold of the vessel, the skin side upward and the flesh 

 side downward, and well covered with salt. The fish were salted again 

 after about three weeks. The salt was shaken off well, and the fish 

 were again laid in the boxes with somewhat less salt. The fins and 

 pieces of the stomach were put in barrels and exposed to considerable 

 pressure, whereby they absorbed sufficient brine, the barrels having 

 been left open for some time. The salt used was coarse-grained salt, 

 resembling the Spanish salt. 



The Icelander from whom I obtained this information was on board 

 six or seven weeks; but he was not able to tell exactly how many fish 

 were caught, as he was not informed as to the number. He supposes, 

 however, that it amounted to from 7,000 to 8,000 fish. At the same time 

 two other American vessels were engaged in these fisheries near the 

 western fiords. One of these vessels had on board a well-known man 

 from the western fiords, who states that about as many fish were caught 

 as by the Concord; but the third vessel had no Icelander on board and 

 did not catch near as many fish. That the quantity of fish caught by 

 the Concord was very considerable might also be judged from the cir- 

 cumstance that of the twelve boxes or compartments nine were com- 

 pletely filled with salt halibut. 



As wages the crew received half the quantity of fish caught, and 

 board and everything else was free on the vessel. The captain engaged 

 the Icelander who furnished me the above information to hold himself 

 ready next summer to accompany another American vessel during the 

 halibut fisheries. 



Note.— See article in F. C. Report, 1884, by Capt. J. W. Collins, entitled " The 

 Icelandic Halibut-Fishery — An account of the voyages of three Gloucester schooners 

 to the fishing grounds near the north coast of Iceland." — Editor. 



