174 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



Thus we go till near nightfall, when we haul in lines and dress the fish 

 secured. Two gangs form to dress down, one on each side of the vessel. 

 One man pitches the fish along into the tub for dressing ; the next cuts off 

 the head and slits the fish down the belly ; a third takes out the gut and 

 deposits the liver in a basket by his side; while a fourth "splits" the fish 

 and takes out the backbone ; and from his hand it goes into a tub of water, 

 and thence into the hold of the Salter. The halibut are then gutted and put 

 into the ice-house, as they have to be kept fresh. We've got, to-day, about 

 I, coo pounds weight of halibut and 3,000 pounds weight of codfish — a very 

 good day's work, considering it was dinner-time when we struck fish. A 

 week of this fishing, and we shall use up all our bait ; but then, it is seldom 

 fish stay in one place so long in Summer time. 



It is now ten days since we got on the Bank, and, although we did not 

 keep the first "school" round us more than three or four days, we have been 

 fortunate enough to strike them again since, and have made a rousing trip, 

 after all— about 35,000 pounds weight of salt codfish and 4,000 pound weights 

 of halibut. The crew will make about fifty dollars apiece on an average — 

 not a bad fortnight's work. As the wind is fair, I think we may put her 

 head for Gloucester. Things don't always go so smoothly as they have this 

 trip, however; and sometimes we beat about for days without meeting with 

 anything. 



