70 THE FISHING INDUSTRY 



invertebrate, marine animals that inhabit the Banks. 

 These, in their turn, provide abundant food for the 

 cod. 



The cod, together with other demersal fish, including 

 haddock, hake and pollack, is caught with baited hooks 

 and lines. This fishery has continued with unbroken 

 prosperity for nearly four centuries. In addition to the 

 Newfoundland boats, a large number of American 

 boats set out for the Banks from Gloucester (Mass.). 

 Most of the boats are sailing boats of about 35 tons 

 capacity, and of sturdy construction. Each boat 

 carries eight dories small row-boats about 15 ft. long 

 amidships. The crew consists of a captain and cook, 

 and sixteen men two for each dory. 



The " Banks " stretch for about 300 miles, by 200 

 miles wide, in a south-easterly direction, towards the 

 centre of the North Altantic. The depths in which the 

 fishing is carried on range from 20 to 120 fathoms off 

 the coast of Newfoundland, from 15 to 90 fathoms on 

 the Banks, ana from 100 to 135 fathoms at the edge of 

 the Banks. The vessel starts out for the fishing grounds 

 with about 400 hogsheads of salt, and from 15,000 to 

 25,000 Ibs. of bait. The bait is generally frozen squid 

 and herring. Capelan is also used as bait, but has to 

 be obtained at Miquelon, the last port of call before 

 putting out to the Banks. The bait must be well iced, 

 as the cod will not bite well if the bait be tainted. 



During the second trip, squid is used as bait and is 

 caught on the fishing grounds. 



As the boat approaches the fishing grounds, the 

 dories are made ready. Each dory carries four tubs of 

 baited lines. A tub contains nine lines, each 50 fathoms 

 long. When fishing, these lines are all strung together, 

 so that each dory will run a string 1 ,800 fathoms long 

 about two miles. Each line carries about 90 hooks that 



