8 



FISHINGGEOUNDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



tliemsclves felt a long distauce from the shore. The fish seem to take the hook best about the 

 close of the strong tide, and then it is that both hand-lines and trawls are most sncccssfully used. 



Temperature observations of the air and water, on the Greenland Fishing-Banks, by Mr. Scuddcr. 



[ Latitude about 60° north. 1 



The last set of observations was taken about forty miles west-southwest from Holsteiuborg. 



2. THE ATLANTIC COAST OF LABEADOR. 



The existence has been known, for a great many years, of very extensive fishing-grounds 

 along the northeastern coast of Labrador, between latitudes 53° and 56° north. As early as 1758, 

 these grounds were visited by American fishermen, and from the collection of the Massachusetts 

 Historical Society for 1792 wo extract the following brief description of that region, as obtained 

 from Captain Atkins, who visited it in the former year (1758) : 



" The coast is very full of islands, many of them very large, capable of great improvement 

 as they have more or less Due harbors, abounding in fish and seal, water and land fowls, good 

 land, covered with woods, in which are great numbers of fur beasts of the best kind. Along the 

 coast are many excellent harbors, very safe from storms ; in some are islands, with suCBcicnt depths 

 of water for the largest sliips to ride between, full of codfish, and rivers with plenty of salmon, 

 trout, and other fish. The entrance of Hancock's Inlet in 55° 50' latitude; a very fair inlet; 

 very little tide sets in or out ; from fifteen to twenty fathoms of water going in ; five hundred sail of 

 ships may ride conveniently in this harbor secure from any storms. On the east side the harbor 

 is a natural quay or wharf, composed of large square stones, some of prodigious bulk. . . . 

 The harbor abounds in codfish, very large, that a considerable number of ships might load there 

 without going outside, which may be cured on tlie shore and the quay, excejjt in very high tides." 



Not very much, however, was ever made known regarding the North Labrador fi.sliiiiggrounds 

 until 187(1. Prof. II. Y. Hind, who had explored them in tlic interest of tlie Newfoundland 



