208 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [20] 
6.—HARBORS. 
The harbors of greatest use to the fishermen will be those of Holstein- 
borg and Sukkertoppen. Of the latter I can say nothing, except that 
itis reported, by those who have been there, as a good harbor. Holstein- 
borg, surrounded on three sides by the mainland and on the other by 
several islands, is completely protected from the rough water, and is 
only exposed to the wind on the side towards the strait, from which 
quarter there is scarcely ever a violent blow.. The harbor is large, and 
has a depth of 10 to 25 fathoms. The harbors mentioned are ninety miles 
apart, and as the best fishing we had was about half way between the 
two, we could easily have run into one of them, whichever way the wind 
might have been. 
Previous to the summer of 1879, which was considered very mild, the 
fishing vessels went into harbor at least, three times a month. This 
was due to the S. W. and N. E. winds, which, combined with the strong 
tides and comparatively shallow water, would soon raise a “nasty sea.” 
These blows, though perhaps not extremely dangerous, would frequently 
occasion loss if an attempt was made to ride them out, either by the 
breaking of some part of the rigging, or, if the deck was filled with fish 
when the wind came, by the loss of a part or all of these. 
Nor are winds and waves the only things causing the vessels to seek 
the harbor. It is frequently very convenient to leave some things on 
shore, so as to have more room in the vessel. Thus the Bunker Hill 
left barrels of pickled fins on shore, and Captain Lawson left there, until 
ready to return home, quite a cargo of codfish he had brought from the 
Grand Banks, but which was in his way while fishing. New supplies 
of water must also be secured. The harbor of Holsteinborg usually is 
open by the middle of May, and perhaps fishing could be commenced by 
the first of June, but the ice that is brought down the east coast of Green- 
land, besides blocking up the more southern harbors, will probably 
render the passage north too dangerous before the middle of June. On 
this account, and because the change in the weather about the 20th of 
August, the fishing here will have to be done in July and August. 
C.—FISHING. 
7.—TIME OF YEAR FOR FISHING. 
The time for fishing in these waters is July and August. There is no 
doubt but that the fish will bite both earlier and later than this, but these 
are the best months, and August is better than July. Besides abund- 
ance of fish, other considerations, such as climate and the passage to the 
strait and home again, tend to limit the time to these months. The fish 
caught in August were in much better condition, and had a much larger 
proportion of females than those caught in July. This may, however, 
have been due to the fact that the fishing was done on an entirely dif- 
