OUR SEA FISHERIES. 195 



Westray to Bockall, but only five days on the fishing- 

 ground, four days having been occupied in going and 

 three days in returning. They had fourteen tons of 

 cod each, for which they received 10?. per ton (140?. 

 worth of fish caught in five days) ; but after those fish 

 were dried and prepared for market, they were sold by 

 the merchants, a few weeks after, for nearly double that 

 amount. The heads and other offal (with the exception 

 of the liver, which is the perquisite of the master) 

 were thrown overboard at Bockall, a practice which 

 cannot be too much condemned, as those fishermen 

 very well know that they spoil their fishing-ground 

 by doing so. Dry-bottomed ships suit better for this 

 dead fishing than the welled smacks. The wells 

 occupy so much space that there is little room left 

 for holding fish, salt, &c, and the vessels conse- 

 quently cannot remain long on the fishing-ground. 

 The crews were also found to be few for Eockall, and 

 their lines not strong enough for such large, heavy 

 fish. Each man is provided with two hand-lines 

 and a good supply of hooks ; the lines require to be 

 about 100 fathoms long. The very best line that I 

 have ever seen (and practical judges say the same) 

 for fishing purposes is that made by a recently- 

 invented machine, said to be on an entirely new 

 principle. The cord, from the regularity of the back 



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