THE GREAT BANKS OF NEWFOUNDLAND. 441 



These details are furnished to give travellers desir- 

 ous of trying their hand at this sort of sea fishing, an 

 idea of the outfit carried by regular fishing boats, out 

 of which they can of course select such parts and 

 quantities as may suit their requirements. Very plea- 

 sant parties may often be made up, by hiring a small 

 vessel, for a short trip to fishing grounds of wellrknown 

 excellence. Travellers visiting Newfoundland (our oldest 

 and yet perhaps least known British colony) for instance, 

 hardly need to be reminded that wonderful sport may 

 still be had upon its great banks and coasts. In the 

 days of sailing ships it used to be quite a regular 

 practice for vessels crossing the Banks of Newfoundland, 

 to lie to, or anchor for some hours if the weather 

 permitted, to give passengers and crew an opportunity 

 of doing a little codfishing, and thus supplying the ship 

 with a quantity of fresh fish and valuable food which 

 cost nothing. The records of most of the old sailing 

 voyages to America via the St. Lawrence and other 

 northern points make mention of this matter as a regular 

 custom. * 



" The great Bank of Newfoundland is an extensive shoal 

 to the S.E. of that island, upwards of 330 miles in length by 

 75 in width, with water over it varying in depth from 16 to 

 60 fathoms. The fishing season commences about May, and 

 continues until September. Fishing is carried on near the 

 shore in small boats, and on the great bank itself by schoon- 

 ers. Each person manages two lines, and each line carries 

 two hooks, and good hands will take 3 to 4 cwts of fish in 

 a day." f 



The principal bait used is the capeling, a small fish. 



* See Annburry's Travels in America, 17/6 to 1781, published 

 London 1791, Vol. i., Chapter i. 



| The Sea Fisherman, by J. C. Wilcocks, 1 868, p. 161. 



