THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 115 
The disadvantages of the long-line, as alleged by those opposed to its 
use, may be formulated essentially as follows: 
(1) It is more expensive, requiring a larger capital, and consequently 
rendering the poor fishermen unable to compete with the more wealthy 
in regard to its acquisition and employment. Objections of this kind 
generally come from the hand-line fishermen, who, however, when able 
to purchase the long-line, are very apt to forget their former scruples 
and to use it without hesitation. This change of policy, is excused on the 
score of self-protection and the necessity of employing methods similar 
to those of a rival fisherman for the purpose of making a living. 
- (2) It is sometimes objected that it requires two or more persons to 
use the traw]-lines instead of one. That a combination of persons should 
accomplish a much larger result than the aggregate of their separate 
endeavors is in accordance with the general principles of a sound polit- 
‘ical economy. 
(3) It is asserted that the line is much more liable to be lost than the 
hand-line. This is said to be caused by the wearing of the line on rocks, 
although generally the buoys at each end enable the separate portions 
to be recovered. As a matter of actual experience, however, the ex- 
pense of lines absolutely lost in this way amounts to a very small per- 
centage of the original cost. 
(4) The fish are brought up dead or not always perfectly fresh, and 
many of them are devoured by other fish, as eels, codfish, sharks, crabs, 
&c., either while living or after death. 
This objection is, of course, one that may be fairly put; but after all, 
the yield of sound, merchantable fish is sufficiently great to permit an 
average wastage; and if it be fish killed on the hook and remaining in 
the water for some time, it is for the advantage of the consumer to have 
the services of these scavengers in assuring a supply of perfectly fresh 
fish for the market. 
Although these objections will not apply toso great an extent to the 
hand-line, yet they do attach to the use of the gill-net, and, in fact, toa 
still greater degree, in both methods a considerable loss taking place. 
This destruction, however, which has been claimed as involving a wast- 
age of the fish in the sea, is not a question for the consideration of the 
owner of the line, as an equivalent in weight to the very fish thus con- 
sumed while attached to the hook would in all probability. have been 
taken while swimming free in the sea by these same enemies. 
The practical experience in trawling, however, is that while some of 
the hooks are brought up entirely empty, very few hooks have muti- 
lated fish upon them, a large proportion being alive and in good condi- 
tion, and on being placed in the wells of the smacks are capable of be- 
ing kept for a long time. 
As a general rule codfish in England are sent alive to the markets, 
and the enormous quantity consumed there and elsewhere is taken for 
the most part by the long-line. If in consequence of a storm or some 
