156 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



The bait employed early in the season consists of 

 shell-fish, or the flesh of true fishes, until the arrival 

 of the Capelin shoals in June, which last two or 

 three weeks, and are succeeded by the Launce and 

 Squid, or Cuttle. Each man generally holds a line 

 in each hand, and the moment he feels a bite the 

 fish is drawn up, and the hook rebaited. When bait 

 is scarce, as it often is before the Capelin season, an 

 instrument called a jigger is used, consisting of two 

 large hooks soldered together in the shanks by 

 means of lead, which is made to assume the size 

 and form of a Capelin ; the points of the hooks are 

 turned in opposite directions. This double hook 

 is dropped without bait, and is continually moved 

 up and down by jerks. The shining lead attracts 

 many Cods, so that the jigging is almost sure to 

 hook many of the fish in succession, and some- 

 times even two at once. Of course they are often 

 sadly lacerated, and as the hooks frequently break 

 out, the fish escapes in a wounded condition, and 

 this is thought to have a tendency to drive the 

 shoals from the ground. When the boat is loaded, 

 or it is time to land the fish, they weigh and pro- 

 ceed to the stage, a long narrow wharf projecting 

 from the shore, rudely walled and roofed. At the 

 seaward end of this building is a long table, at which 

 stand two men. The boat lying at the end of the 

 stage, a man furnished with a pew, a curved iron 

 spike at the end of a staff, throws up the fish one 

 by one to the table above. The first man at the 

 table, called the header, now seizes it, rips open 



