XIII.-NOTES ON THE HABITS AND METHODS OF CAPTURE OF 

 VARIOUS SPECIES OF SEA BIRDS THAT OCCUR ON THE FISH- 

 ING BANKS OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF NORTH AMERICA, 

 AND WHICH ARE USED AS BAIT FOR CATCHING CODFISH BY 

 NEW ENGLAND FISHERMEN. 



By Capt. J. W. Collins. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



For many years after the introduction of trawl-Kne fishing in New 

 England birds were extensively used for bait to eke out the supply ob- 

 tained from other sources, and even prior to the time when trawls came 

 into use old fishermen say that they caught birds on the banks with 

 which they baited their hand-lines. Several varieties of birds were ob- 

 tained for bait, principal among which may be mentioned the hagdons 

 {Puffinns major and P. fuliginosus) ; the jaegers, of several species: ful- 

 mars, gulls, and petrels or Mother Carey chickens. 



Birds were used much more extensively before 1875 than they have 

 been since, as of late years it has generally been found more profitable 

 to depend on other sources for a bait supply. They have never been 

 used for bait in any great numbers, except by trawling schooners on the 

 Grand Bank, and these vessels were said to be engaged in " shack- 

 fishing." 



The term " shack-fisbing," it may be explained, owes its origin to the 

 kind of material used as bait, the word "shack" being applied to refuse 

 or offal. The vessels procuring fares in this manner were called " shack- 

 fishermen." They usually resorted to the Banks in early spring, carry- 

 ing a limited amount of salt clams, salt squid, or menhaden slivers, 

 which were intended to be used in commencing the fishing season, and 

 to eke out any deficiency which might occur in the bait supply. The 

 fishing being well under way, the crews depended upon such bait as 

 they could procure on the Banks, such as birds, small halibut, por- 

 poises, and sometimes codfish ; all of which, together with the contents 

 of the stomachs of the cod, which often consisted largely of bank clams 

 and occasionally young squid and capelin, werecalled "shack," or "shack 

 bait." 



A fisherman preparing a bird for shack-bait cuts off the feet, tail, and 

 neck J then, making a cut across the breast, he strips off the skin and 

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