184 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



where cod-fishing was carried on. It may be of 

 interest to know something more in detail of the 

 conditions that obtain in such localities. From 

 the town of Chatham on Cape Cod, in favorable 

 weather all through the warmer months of the 

 year, a very considerable number of fishermen go 

 regularly to the " banks " to catch cod, both for 

 use as fresh fish, and when plentiful to manufacture 

 into one of the staples associated with the New 

 England coast, salt codfish. 



The fishing is carried on in large cat-rigged 

 boats or sloops, and usually the fishermen do not 

 remain away over night, for it is but a couple of hours 

 run to " the banks " under favorable conditions. 

 With a fisherman I left Chatham very early one 

 morning, and by daylight we were far out at sea. 

 A gun and ammunition were part of my equip- 

 ment, and as occasional birds were seen in the 

 distance, I thought it worth while to begin my 

 preparations. I saw an amused look pass over 

 the captain's face as he said to me, " Better wait 

 till we get where the birds are ; it will be easier 

 to get 'em." After two hours' sail we were 

 now out of sight of land he announced that we 

 had arrived at the fishing banks, and that he 

 would make a try. This seemed to be entirely 

 foreign to the work I had come out to do, but I 

 did not interfere. Without anchoring the boat, 

 simply heaving to, he baited a couple of codfish 



