THE NEWFOUNDLAND COD FISHERY 71 



is, 3,200 hooks to each dory. A vessel with eight dories 

 will thus set about 16 miles of line, carrying about 

 25,000 hooks. The hooks are attached to the lines by 

 means of shorter lines called " gangings " in Scotland 

 they are known as " snoods " about 2 ft. long. The 

 complete line, as set by a dory, is called a " trawl." 



On arriving at the fishing grounds, soundings are 

 made to determine the depth and character of the 

 bottom. The best fishing is obtained over a gravel 

 bottom. The trawls are then set while the vessel is 

 in motion (a frying set), and if the fish are found to be 

 abundant the vessel drops anchor. 



The flying set is carried out as follows : The dories 

 are towed astern and, when the right spot has been 

 selected, are droppped at regular intervals until all are 

 away. Each dory as it is dropped rows off at right 

 angles to the course of the vessel, and in the same 

 general direction, throwing out its trawl as it proceeds 

 until it is all set. The vessel then returns diagonally 

 across the fishing grounds to the starting point, picking 

 up the dories as their trawls are set. After a tune, 

 the dories are dropped again in the same order as before, 

 and the men haul up the trawls and take the fish off. 

 Each dory is then picked up in succession together with 

 her catch. If this flying set is successful, and other 

 conditions are favourable, the vessel drops her anchor 

 and fishing proceeds. 



The manner in which the trawls are set depends 

 upon the tide. They are always set as far as possible 

 with the tide. Thus, the dories on the side of the 

 vessel against which the tide is flowing row out against 

 the tide, until they are about a trawl-length from the 

 ship. They then set the end of the trawl at the point, 

 and work towards the vessel. On the other side of the 

 vessel the trawl is set from the vessel with the tide 



