694 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



captain brings his vessel upon some little spot of ground known to be a 

 favorite resort of the cod. Each crew strives to be first on the ground, 

 which is a small rocky ridge five or six miles east-southeast of Eastern 

 Point, with an average depth of 25 to 30 fathoms. After the anchor 

 has been tlropped the jib and foresail are "taken in" and the dories are 

 lowered from the vessel's deck. Soon the men, following each other 

 in rapid succession, are off for their favorite spots, the captain and cook, 

 or at times only the latter, remaining to care for the vessel and fish over 

 the rail. It is indeed a lively scene, with 150 dories and upwards of 40 

 larger crafts, each striving for the best berth on a little ridge of ground 

 not over 50 by 90 rods in extent. 



When the desired knob has been reached, the killick is dropped, and 

 the fisherman seats himself upon the middle thwart with his face toward 

 the stern, his lines and gaff by his side, and his bucket of bait before 

 him. A fisherman uses two lines, each having two hooks, the leads 

 varying in weight from three to five x>ounds, according to the depth of 

 water and the strength of the tide. The hooks are now baited, from 

 three to six sperling being strung on each, and a line is thrown over on 

 either side, being allowed to run out until the lead reaches the bottom 

 when it is " seized up" five or six feet, so that the lower hook just clears 

 the rocks, with the upper one a foot or two above. The lines are now 

 fastened to the inner braces of the boat, and with one in either hand 

 the fisherman sits expectant, slowly moving his arms back and forth in 

 his endeavor to induce the fish to bite. On hooking a fish, he generally 

 stands in the boat, facing the line, which he proceeds to haid quite 

 rapidly until the fish is at the surface, when with one hand he holds the 

 line, and with the other reaches for his gaff" to Uft the fish into the boat. 



The best fishing usually occurs in the early morning, though the hour 

 may vary and even come in the afternoon ; but by one or two o'clock 

 the flag is set in the rigging of the vessel as a signal for the boats to re- 

 turn, and as they come alongside, the fish are pitched into the common 

 pile on deck, after which they are " hoisted in," and the vessel starts 

 for home in order to market her catch before dark. 



The quantity of fish taken daily varies greatly, being dependent upon 

 the dexterity of the fisherman, the abundance of fish, and the quality 

 and kind of bait used. The largest hand-line catch in a day, as far as 

 we can learn, was secured off Pigeon Cove in the winter of 1877-'78, 

 when a fisherman landed 2,200 pounds of round fish. About the same 

 time two men, fisliing from one boat in the same locality, landed 3,900 

 pounds ; while two other boats with similar crews fell only 100 pounds 

 behind them.* 



The method of trawling originated with the fishermen of this region, 

 lU'obably with those of Marblehead, about twenty -five years ago, and 

 has since come into general favor. This method is used almost exclu- 

 sively when fishing where the bottom is smooth ; though it cannot be 



* Cape Ann Adv ertiser , 



