184 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [94] 



On these occasions the deck of the vessel presents a scene of great 

 activity and excitement. 



Let US try to depict a scene in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. We are 

 on the deck of a clipper schooner from Gloucester, standing along with 

 the four lower sails and the main gaff-topsail set, a fresh breeze blowing 

 from the southwest; the sky is overcast, and the sea comparatively 

 smooth; within the plane of vision are the white sails of some 250 

 schooners, most of which are hove to, a few tearing along under press 

 of sail seeking new positions; here and there among the fleet is a vessel 

 with a flag set at her main peak or at her main topmast head ; this is 

 to indicate that she has completed her fare and is homeward bound. 

 Some of these are lying to, and are still fishing, while others have all 

 sail set, and are heading for the Strait of Canso on their homeward 

 way. A few miles to the northeast looms up the rugged shore of the 

 Magdalen Islands, its high outline here and there broken by long 

 stretches of sandy beach; a train of great white gannets crosses our 

 bow, five or six of them rapidly flying close to the water; suddenly the 

 leader disappears beneath the water, and his companions rise up for a 

 moment and then "plug down" head foremost after the fish which they 

 see. The movement is perceived by other gannets, and they flock in 

 from all directions and share the feast. As we speed along two or three 

 of these birds, which have filled themselves to repletion, are swimming in 

 our course, unable to rise, and, in order to escape, they disgorge their 

 stomach-loads of fish and flap away just before the vessel reaches 

 them. We now approach the fleet, and pass by the leeward vessels 

 which are hove to, the starboard rails of which are lined with men ex- 

 citedly plying their lines. Our skipper stands on the quarter witli his 

 glass to his eye, trying to determine which portion of the fleet is meet- 

 ing with the best success. He selects a berth near the middle of the fleet^ 

 and thitlier he directs the course of the vessel by word to the steers- 

 man. We thread our way in a zigzag course among tlie drifting ves- 

 sels, sometimes escaping by a few inches only the thrust of a jib-boom^ 

 and again almost snapping off the main-boom of some other vessel. At 

 length we approach the selected position and heave to, coming up 

 sharply to the wind with the mainsail hard aback. The skipper takes 

 his position at the main rigging and begins throwing bait, at the same 

 time putting out his lines for trial. After the vessel is hove to, the 

 men are lounging about the deck, yet in expectant attitudes. At a 

 little distance from the rail stands a row of barrels, one opposite the 

 berth of each man. These are called ''strike" barrels. The lines, with 

 the jigs attached, are coiled upon the cleats or lie u])on the rails, each 

 man ha\ing examined his own and prepared it for in)mediate use. At 

 last the skipper is seen to rapidly haul in his line, pulling a glittering 

 mackerel over the rail, and, by the peculiar motion known to the fisher- 

 men as "slatting off," the fish is jerked over his right shoulder into 

 the barrel, while the drumming of the mackerel against the bottom of 



