REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [86] 



Look, round the shank of which has been cast a plummet of lead, pew- 

 ter, or tin, somewhat globular at its upper end and tapering down toward 

 the bend of the hook. At the upper end is a hole through which a fishing- 

 line is bent. The weight of a mackerel jig has varied from a quarter of 

 an ounce to three or four ounces at different times during the history of 

 the fishery. At first they were made much heavier than they have been 

 in later years. At present many fishermeu, when using jigs, prefer them 

 very small. It has been stated that each fisherman has from seven to 

 twelve fishing cleats in his berth at the rail. On these cleats are fastened 

 an assortment of lines with jigs of various sizes, the heaviest being used 

 when the mackerel are biting fast, or when the wind is blowing fresh; 

 the lightest, when the water is very smooth, or when the mackerel are 

 "picking," or nibbling daintily. 



The fishermen always made their jigs in molds of metal or soapstone, 

 this operation being similar to the old-fashioned method of making 

 ballets. In former days these molds were made of iron, but many of 

 the fishermen being dissatisfied with the shape constructed them for 

 their own use of lead. At present the soapstone jig-molds and the lead 

 and pewter constitute a part ot the outfit of a vessel. 



When jigs were first introduced, however, it was customary for fisher- 

 men to cast them for themselves in molds improvised in buckets of sand 

 or ashes, afterwards beating into shape the rough castings, and boring 

 the hole for the line. This custom was prevalent on some vessels as late 

 as 1850. In the later years of this fishery the fishermen became very 

 critieal in the matter of jigs, and were not satisfied unless they were 

 elegantly shaped and brilliantly polished. The lines were six or eight 

 fathoms in length, of cotton, being either hawser or shroud laid. Of 

 later years these have always been of cotton. In early days, when the 

 heavier jigs were in vogue, much larger lines were used than at a later 

 period; sinee 1800 it has been customary to use a kind of snood, called 

 "snapper-line," made of strong linen thread and usually colored blue. 

 The "snapper-lines" are from 15 to 18 inches long, one end being bent 

 to the jig, and the other fastened to the fishing line with what is 

 called a kt water-knot." During the voyage the lines are generally coiled 

 up and hung upon the fishing-cleats on the waist when not in use. As 

 has been stated, each man has from eight to twelve lines, with jigs of 

 different sizes, fastened to the cleats at his berth. A quantity of extra 

 lines and hooks are carried by the vessel. 



(b.) The mackerel fly-hook. — The mackerel liy-hook, formerly very pop- 

 ular and introduced before 1850, has been discontinued since 1800. This 

 is an extra hook on a ganging from 12 to 15 inches long, fastened to the 

 jig-line 8 or 10 inches above the jig. Not being weighted, this hook 

 floats at an angle when the jig is sinking, and by using it two mackerel 

 are sometimes caught at once, one biting at the jig and one on the fly- 

 hook. The fly-hook went out of favor because it was liable to become 

 entangled with the other fishing-gear. 



