Fisheries of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 55 



The rules which the Petitioners pray may become law are simply 

 that the fishing grounds may be divided into two parts, one for the 

 " bultow," and one for hand-line Fishermen ; that the u bultows," 

 shall always be set parallel with each other, that they may not get 

 foul, and may take up as little room as possible ; and, lastly that a 

 pefson conversant with this mode of fishing, may be appointed to 

 enforce these rules, and to instruct those who are not acquainted 

 with the method, in the proper manner of fitting out and setting 

 the " bultow." The Petitioners conclude bv stating their belief, that 

 if their suggestions are carried out, the boats now used in the Shore 

 Fishery will, in three years, give place to the" bultow " throughout 

 Newfoundland, as they have already done in Byrant's Cove. 



For the Deep-sea Fishery, the " bultow " is of great length. The 

 French fishing vessels chiefly anchor on the Grand Bank of New- 

 foundland, in about 45 fathoms water, veer out one hundred fathoms 

 of cable, and prepare to catch Cod, with 2 lines, each 3000 fathoms 

 in length. The snoods are arranged as previously desciibed, and 

 the hooks being baited, the lines are neatly coiled in half bushel 

 baskets, clear for running out. The baskets are placed in two 

 strong built lug-sail boats, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, 

 both make sail together, at right angles from the vessel, on opposite 

 sides ; when the lines are run out straight, they are sunk to within 

 five feet of the bottom. At day break next morning, the boats 

 proceed to trip the sinkers at the extremities of the lines, and while 

 the crew of each boat are hauling in line and unhooking Fish, the 

 men on board heave in the other end of the lines, with a winch. 

 In this way, four hundred of the large Bank Cod are commonly 

 taken in a night. The Fish are cleaned and salted on board, and 

 stowed in the hold in bulk ; the livers are boiled to oil, which is 

 put in largo casks secured on deck. The French vessels engaged 

 in this Fishery, are from 150 to 300 tons burthen ; they arrive on 

 the Grand Bank early in June, and on the average, complete their 

 cargoes in three months. In fine weather, the largest class of 

 vessels frequently run out three or four "bultows" in different 

 directions from the ship, and thus fish 10,000 fathoms of line, or 

 more, at one time, with a proportionate number of hooks. 



Should this mode of fishing be approved, measures might be 

 devised for promoting its adoption near the shores of New Bruns- 

 wick. 



If circumstances should arise to induce the prosecution of the 

 Cod Fisheries of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on a more extensive 



