[33] THE HALIBUT FISHERY—DAVIS’ STRAIT. 221 
of profit or loss, while on others the crews are composed of both hired 
men and shares-men. 
13,—EVERY-DAY LIFE, SUPERSTITIONS, ETC. 
At a quarter past six, Monday evening, the 9th of June, the steam-tug, 
Sarah I. Wetherell, pulled the Bunker Hill off from the wharf, so that 
her sails might catch the wind favorably. We had expected to start 
several hours earlier, but the little unexpected delays common to such 
occasions had prevented. Even as it was, on counting up hands, two 
were found missing; so that, while we tacked back and forth at the 
mouth of the harbor, waiting, a dory was sent to find the delinquents. 
Two hours passed before the return of the dory, and our number was 
complete; but during this time the wind had died out, rendering it 
doubtful whether we would succeed in leaving the harbor that evening. 
Nine o’clock, however, saw us outside of the harbor, headed in the direc- 
tion of Nova Scotia. 
A general feeling of excitement prevailed, strengthened in part by in- 
dulgence in the strong stuff; but as only a quart of the fiend was brought 
on board, outside of the crew and the Fish Commission tanks, all were 
soon sober and ready for work. 
The captain had his berth, and one had been assigned to me, but 
the rest of the crew had as yet no settled sleeping place. The bunks to 
be chosen were in the cabin and forecastle. The cabin had two double- 
berths on each side, but as the starboard (right hand) ones were reserved 
for the captain and myself, only two of the berths were vacant. As 
the berths were large there was room in the two larboard (left hand) 
ones for four, making six to sleep in the cabin. The forecastle was ar- 
ranged with berths on each side, and a table in the center, in front of 
the foremast, where we took our meals. One of the nen was too much 
overcome, by something he had taken, to choose his sleeping-quarters 
at the same time the rest did, and naturally the worst bunk in the ves- 
sel fell to him. This was more, or rather less, than he could endure; so 
he took up his quarters back of the cabin, under the wheel, and, with the 
exception of the dampness of the place, had quite a comfortable bunk. 
This added one more to the occupants of the cabin, leaving eight to sleep 
in the forecastle. Each nfan furnished his own bed and bedding. 
This evening we had our first meal on board. The crew took their 
meals in two sets, the first of seven, and the second of eight, and this 
division was made in such a manner as the least to interfere with the fish- 
ing arrangements. As already seen, the dorymates had to attend to the 
fishing arrangements of their own dory. Now, many of these things, 
such as renewing hooks, baiting, &c., could be attended to by one man 
at a time, and less time would be lost if only one went to meals while 
the other kept on working, than if both went together. On this account, 
the division of the men at meals was made, with one exception, caused 
by my presence, in such a manner that only one man to a dory would 
