Fisheries of the Gulf of St, Lawrence. S7 



on till the approach of night, or the sudden disappearance of the 

 remnant of the "scbull" puts an end to it. The fish are then 

 dressed, and thrown into casks of water to rid them of blood. To 

 ensure sound and sweet Mackerel, it is indispensable that the blood 

 and impurities should be thoroughly removed before salting ; that 

 the salt should be of the best quality, free from lime, or other inju- 

 rious substances ; and that the barrels should, in all cases, be tight 

 enough to retain the pickle. 



In those Harbours of Nova Scotia which are within the Strait 

 of Canso, Mackerel of late years, have been taken in seines, capa- 

 ble of enclosing and securing 800 barrels ; and in these seines, 400 

 and even 600 barrels have been taken at a single sweep. The 

 "•drift-net" is also used ; but as it is believed that this mode of 

 fishing is not so well understood on the coast of Nova Scotia, as on 

 that of England, the manner of fishing near the latter, with the 

 u drift net,' 5 as described by Mr. Yarrel, is given in preference : — 

 " The most common mode of fishing for Mackerel, and the way 

 in which the greatest numbers are taken, is by drift-nets. The 

 drift-net is 20 feet deep, by 120 feet long ; well corked at the top, 

 but without lead at the bottom. They are made of small fine 

 twine, which is tanned of a reddish-brown colour, to preserve it 

 from the action of the salt water, and it is thereby rendered much 

 more durable. The size of the mesh is about <L\ inches, or rather 

 larger. Twelve, fifteen, and sometimes eighteen of these nets are 

 attached lengthways, by tying along a thick rope, called the drift- 

 rope, and the ends of each net, to each other. When arranged for 

 depositing in the sea, a large buoy attached to the end of the drift- 

 rope is thrown overboard, the vessel is put before the wind, and as 

 she sails along, the rope with the nets thus attached, is passed over 

 the stern into the water, till the whole of the nets are thus thrown 

 out. The nets thus deposited, hang suspended in the water per- 

 pendicularly, 20 feet deep from the drift-rope, and extending from 

 three quarters of a mile to a mile, or even a mile and a half, de- 

 pending on the number of nets belonging to the party, or company 

 engaged in fishing together. AVhen the whole of the nets are thus 

 handed out, the drift-rope is shifted from the stern to the bow of 

 the vessel, and she rides by it as at anchor. The benefit gained 

 by the boats hanging at the end of the drift-rope is, that the net is 

 kept strained in a straight line, which, without this pull upon it 

 would not he the case. The nets are " shot " in the evening, and 

 sometimes hauled once during the night, at others allowed to re- 



