THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES. 121 



each other, in from ten to twenty feet of water, and 

 then the fishing began. 



Each man had two lines, and two stationed them- 

 selves at the bow of each boat and two at the stern, 

 back to back. The lines were leaded, and the fish 

 bit almost as soon as the lead touched the bottom. 

 Then the man pulled up the fish as fast as he 

 could, and throwing it over a round bar of iron 

 behind him, the weight of its body disengaged the 

 hook, and, the bait being either put back again or 

 renewed, in went the line again. This operation 

 being constantly repeated, the bottom of the boat 

 was soon alive with cod-fish, and the fishing went on 

 with a rapidity which seemed to me to be marvel- 

 lous. All day, my four shipmates never ceased 

 talking. They talked of everything ; fishing, 

 making love, domestic matters, and even politics; 

 sometimes a good Gallic joke escaped their lips, 

 followed by a hearty Gallic laugh. One of the 

 brave fellows was a Breton sailor from Morlaix, and 

 he gave me some interesting details as to the cod- 

 fishery on the French coast, which seemed to me 

 important enough to be noted down. 



It appears that on the French coast more than 

 four hundred vessels are occupied with the cod- 

 fishery, and over two hundred are employed in 

 fetching and carrying, and in the other operations 

 necessary for carrying on the fishery. From this it 

 would appear that about seven hundred sail and 



