74 FISHERMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tiling. I urn informed that Hie boarding-house keeper cannot trustee for small amounts, it being 

 regarded as unjust that the fisherman should pay the lawyers' fees, unless the suit be an im- 

 portant one. 



"Amusements. — During his stay on shore, after the vessel has been unloaded, the fisherman's 

 life is an aimless hunt after excitement and new forms of amusement. A few days are enough to 

 tire him utterly of land and shore doings and he is looking again for a new chance. During 

 these, leisure days his daytime when not at meals is spent in visiting the wharves, sail-lofts, 

 various stores of the firm owners, and similar places. There he meets others of his vocation 

 and with them talks of the deeds of the past or the prospects for the future. With them he may 

 go to some not tar distant bar-room where they can compare notes over their beer. At these times 

 a circus or any similar excitement is gladly welcomed. 



" Seeking a new berth. — In his pursuit of pleasure ashore the fisherman always seems 

 somewhat ill at ease and anxious to get back to his work. Almost as soon as he is free from one 

 trip lie begins to look about for another. If his vessel is going out again as soon as she unloads, 

 he may stay by her. 



•' .Making ready for a new trip. — Having shipped for his new trip the fisherman's life 

 again presents to him a definite object. The vessel must be put in order for her voyage : the sails, 

 when they are not strong enough, must all be renewed; old ropes, too weak for a blow, must be 

 replaced by others; new gear must be provided for use in case of emergency; complete outfits of 

 hooks, gangings, and other elements of trawl structure must also be laid in; as well as all sorts 

 of odds and ends that may be needed during a long absence. 



"There is salt to be procured and stowed in the various compartments of the vessel's hold, and 

 the water barrels must be filled. The cook, meanwhile, must busy himself about the various stores 

 needed tor the erew during the entire time of absence. He must draw from the store of the firm 

 Hour, tea, sugar, molasses, pork, lard, fish, cheese, candles, salt, and kerosene, and a thousand 

 articles, convey them on board, and stow them away all safely below. 



"Each man has stowed in his bunk his bed-sack and other belongings, and all hands on 

 deck present to Gloucester Harbor the familiar sight of stout forms hoisting the huge mainsail, 

 heaving u]) with a monotonous click, click, at the windlass. Now her bow falls off from the wind, 

 the mainsail draws, the other sails are quickly set, and she soon leaves Gloucester far behind." 



41. LIFE ON BOARD THE VESSELS. 



'flie life of the fishermen on board their vessels is so well discussed by Mr. Henry L. Osborne 

 that little more need be said concerning it. By reading his descriptions, one may form a very vivid 

 and accurate mental picture of the life of the fishermen. Mr. Osborne's notes were collected during 

 a trip to the Grand Hank in the cod-fishing schooner Victor, of Gloucester, in the summer of 1879, 

 in behalf of the United States Fish Commission. 



Mr. Osborne discusses the subject under three heads: (a) Routine of daily life on the Banks; 

 (b) Pastimes on board ship; (e) Routine of life at baiting stations. 



"ROUTINE OF DAILY LIFE ON THE BANKS. 



"Meals. — As soon as the first indications of daylight were noticeable in the east, the cook 

 would emerge from his berth, rake up his lire, which he never permitted to go out, and proceed 

 to prepare for breakfast. At 4 o'clock, or not far from that hour, he announced the meal by a 

 blast willi his whistle, a summons which was usually obeyed with somewhat of tardiness. 



"Dinner was usually ready at 11 o'clock, though never much earlier. Sometimes it inter- 



