THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 115 



The disadvantages of the long-line, as alleged by those opposed to its 

 use, may be formulated essentially as follows : 



(1) It is more expensive, requiring a larger capital, and consequently 

 rendering the poor fishermen unable to compete with the more wealthy 

 in regard to its acquisition and employment. Objections of this kind 

 generally come from the hand-line fishermen, who, however, when able 

 to purchase the long-line, are very apt to forget their former scruples 

 and to use it without hesitation. This change of policy, is excused on the 

 score of self- protection and the necessity of employing methods similar 

 to those of a rival fisherman for the purpose of making a living. 



(2) It is sometimes objected that it requires two or more persons to 

 use the trawl-lines instead of one. That a combination of persons should 

 accomplish a much larger result thau the aggregate of their separate 

 endeavors is in accordance with the general principles of a sound polit- 

 ical economy. 



(3) It is asserted that the line is much more liable to be lost than the 

 hand-line. This is said to be caused by the wearing of the line on rocks, 

 although generally the buoys at each end enable the separate portions 

 to be recovered. As a matter of actual experience, however, the ex- 

 pense of lines absolutely lost in this way amounts to a very small per- 

 centage of the original cost. 



(4) The fish are brought up dead or not always perfectly fresh, and 

 many of them are devoured by other fish, as eels, codfish, sharks, crabs, 

 &c, either while living or after death. 



This objection is, of course, one that may be fairly put ; but after all, 

 the yield of sound, merchantable fish is sufficiently great to permit an 

 average wastage; and if it be fish killed on the hook and remaining in 

 the water for some time, it is for the advantage of the consumer to have 

 the services of these scavengers in assuring a supply of perfectly fresh 

 fish for the market. 



Although these objections will not apply to so great an extent to the 

 hand-line, yet they do attach to the use of the gill-net, and, in fact, to a 

 still greater degree, in both methods a considerable loss taking place. 

 This destruction, however, which has been claimed as involving a wast- 

 age of the fish in the sea, is not a question for the consideration of the 

 owner of the line, as an equivalent in weight to the very fish thus con- 

 sumed while attached to the hook would in all probability have been 

 taken while swimming free in the sea by these same enemies. 



The practical experience in trawling, however, is that while some of 

 the hooks are brought up entirely empty, very few hooks have muti- 

 lated fish upon them, a large proportion being alive and in good condi- 

 tion, and on being placed in the wells of the smacks are capable of be- 

 ing kept for a long time. 



As a general rule codfish in England are sent alive to the markets, 

 and the enormous quantity consumed there and elsewhere is taken for 

 the most part by the long-line. If in consequence of a storm or some 



