54 Fisl Levies of the Gulf of St. Lawrence 



called " bulter " fishing* A gentleman connected with the Bri- 

 tish Fishery Board, has suggested an improvement, in fixing a 

 small piece of cork within about twelve inches of the hook, which 

 will suspend and float the bait, when it will be more readily seen by 

 the fid). If a bait rests upon the ground, it is sometimes covered 

 with sea weed, and often devoured by Star fish, Crabs, and Echini. 

 In a petition from the inhabitants of Byrant's Cove, in New- 

 foundland, to the Legislature of that Colony, in 184G, it is stated, 

 that the "bultow " mode of fishing had been introduced in that 

 vicinity in the previous year, at first by a single line, or "fleet" 

 as it is termed, of one hundred hooks ; and this proved so success- 

 ful, that before the end of the season, seventy five fleets were used, 

 some of them three hundred fathoms long. The petitioners repre- 

 sent, that the set-line, or "bultow, 1 ' is the best mode of fishing 

 ever introduced in those waters, as being less expensive in outfit, 

 an 3 in keeping boats in repair. They state that a set-line will 

 last three years, and with care even longer; that the total expense 

 of fitting one out, with a gross of hooks, is only fifty shillings ; and 

 that it is not moved during the season, nor taken up, except for 

 overhauling and baiting, until the fish move out in the deep water 

 in the autumn. The petitioners add, that the fish taken by the 

 " bultow "■ are larger than those taken by the hand line, as also 

 superior in quality ; and that it was a common thing, during the 

 preceding season, for one and a half quintals of fish to be taken ofif 

 a gross of hooks, in overhauling the line of a morning. It appears 

 that the lines are overhauled, and fresh baits placed on the hooks 

 every morning and evening ; and it is set forth as an advantage of 

 the " bultow," that if the fisherman leaves it properly baited in 

 the morning, it is fishing for him while he is at work in his garden ; 

 whereas, by the other mode, if he was not on the ground, he could 

 not expect fish. The petition then proceeds thus: "Your peti- 

 titioners therefore pray your honorable House to cause the following 

 rules, or something like them, to pass into law, as like all new 

 inventions, the set-line, or " bultow," has to struggle against many 

 hindrances, from ignorance, and bigotry to the old method, yet, as 

 your Petitioners have endeavoured, to show, the "bultow' 1 has 

 proved itself, what may be fully termed, "The Poor Man's 

 Friend. 



* Mr. Wallop Brabanon, in his work on the Deep Sea Fisheries of 

 Ireland, says this mode of fishing is much practised on the West Coast 

 of Ireland, wheie it is called "spilliard," or "spillet" fishing. 



