4o6 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



fifhery, he carries a flag at his main- top- mail head. 

 This diilindion and the advantage of chiifing the 

 ilation for fiihing, are fuch powerful incentives to 

 expedition, that though the harbours are generally fro- 

 zen in the months of Is'^arch and April, fome iliips 

 arrive there during thefc months, and fecure to 

 themfelves t'e beft ftations, and build huts before- 

 hand, by fending i^me of their crew in their long- 

 boats, when the fhip is at the diftance of fifty 

 leagues or more from the coaftj though it mull be 

 acknowledged, that this ardor is often attended with 

 fatal conlequences; the boat during the darknefs of 

 the nights rrnning on the large iflands of ice com- 

 mon on tiie coaili and fometimes founder ia 

 norms, whick are here very fudden and violent. 

 But thefe dangers are all overlooked by an attach- 

 ment to gain and frivolous ambition. The fuccefs 

 or failure of this fi'hery deptiid indeed in a great 

 meaiure on the ftation of the ihip, and the con"e- 

 niencies for curing the fiih. Befides as the wages paid 

 by the owners to the mafter, pccty officers and men, 

 is always one third part of the found fiih brought to 

 Europe, the ihorter the time, the greater is the ad- 

 vantage to each man on board. 



Though all the coafts of Newfoundland may be 

 faid to abound in cod, yet in fome parts it is fuund 

 in greater numbers than in others, and fome there are 

 which produce few or none. This proceeds from the 

 quality of the bottom j for thofe parts where the bot- 

 tom is fandy are fuller of fifh than where it is rocky ; 

 but if the bottom be muddy, fiih are very fcarce ; 

 likevvife in a great depth of water the fifh are not 

 caught in that plenty as when it does not exceed thirty 

 or forty fathom. For though cod be found at a greater 

 or lefs depth, yet this feems to be that which the 

 pod moft delight in. 



Such are the motives for which the mailers of 

 yeffcls in this trade are fo eager to be among t]ie 



firit, 



