SAILOR FISHERMEN OF NEW ENGLAND. 87 



possible opening at the ueck and buttoning closely round the wrists. It extends down to t lie hips 

 and is worn outside of the trowsers. This is worn instead of the oil-jacket in warm weather, 

 especially by men dressing fish. 



The barvel.— This is a stout apron of oil cloth. The barvel is made in different shapes: 

 (a) the barvel proper, which is an apron of heavy oil-cloth, extending from the waist downward to 

 below the boot-tops, and upwards, in a flap, almost to the neck, and is held in that position by a 

 strap passing around the neck. The flaps almost meet at the back and are held in place by two 

 strings which cross each other at the small of the back, passing around the body and fastening in 

 front. It is generally used in place of the "pants," especially when cod fishing in summer, and 

 sometimes when dressing fish, and is occasionally worn in connection with the jumper or the 

 jacket; (b) the petticoat barvel, which is iu general form like the ordinary barvel, but has a much 

 larger flap, closed at the back and extending under the arms. It extends higher up on the 

 waist than the ordinary barvel. This has but recently come into use among our fishermen, but is 

 essentially the same as the garment worn centuries ago by the French and English fishermen in 

 the Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries. These fishermen used to stand inside of a barrel 

 when dressing fish, and the petticoat hung over the outside. The petticoat barvel is chiefly in use 

 among the hand-line fishermen and the seiners. 



Oil-sleeves.— These are false sleeves fastened tight about the wrist and extending high up 

 on the arm, generally secured at the shoulder with a button. They are used by the men while 

 dressing fish and hauling the seines or engaged in any other work in which the arms are likely to 

 get wet. 



Monliey-jaclcets and mufflers. — There is comparatively little difference in the temperature on the 

 fishing grounds in summer and winter, especially on the distant grounds where cold fogs constantly 

 prevail, and where, as the fishermen express it, the year is made up of uiue months' winter and 

 three mouths late in the fall. The monkey jacket is substituted in the coldest weather for the 

 jumper, and sometimes both are worn together. The only special provision for comfort is a woolen 

 muffler, or comforter, with which the neck and face are enveloped. 



Boots. — Fishermen's boots are either of leather or rubber, the latter material being in more 

 general use iu winter, while leather is chiefly worn in summer. Ordinary rubber boots, costing 

 from $3.50 to $5, are commonly used. The hip boots are sometimes, though not frequently, worn. 

 Among the Bank fishermen boots of russet leather are preferred to the black ones, but whether 

 red or black, the leather fishing boots are generally of thick cowhide or " grain-leather," with very 

 heavy soles. 



Quality of oiled clothing.— The oil-clothes made in New England are acknowledged to be the 

 best in the world. The oil is applied with more skill, the materials are better, and the patterns 

 the most convenient. Both double and single thickness of oil cloth are used, the latter chiefly in 

 summer. All of the garments described, except the barvels, are also made of rubber, and are lie 

 quently used by the fishermen. These wear longer and are preferred iu winter because they do not 

 stiffen or crack in cold weather; the price, however, is considerably higher. The cost of a jacket 

 and "pants" of oil cloth, iu 1880, was from $3 to $3.50. A corresponding suit of rubber costs about 



Hand coverings. — A variety of coverings for the bauds are in use : 



(a) Woolen mittens. — These are made of coarse yarn. Inappropriate as it may seem, they are 

 almost always white, colored mittens being considered by some fishermen unlucky or "Jonahs." 

 The more liberal fishermen respect the prejudices of their companious. These mittens air used 

 not only for warmth but as a protection to the hands when dressing fish. They are always 



