NEWFOUNDLAND COD-FISHERY. 159 



any kind of fresh fish ; the method of fishing as for Silver-Whiting 

 at anchor. 



The Sand-Eel or Launce is also an excellent bait, and much 

 used in the Newfoundland Fishery. Whelks are also employed, 

 and form the chief bait of the cod smacks. 



A great many Cod are taken by trots, or long lines, for 

 which see under ' Bass ' (p. 142). Size of line, fig. n, No. i,p. 48. 



The supply of salted Cod-fish is procured, as is well known, 

 from the banks of Newfoundland. W T hen fishing for Silver- 

 Whiting in the autumn, you will now and then take a Cod-fish. 

 Small Cod are termed Codlings or Tom-Cod, and are to be 

 fished for in every respect as for Silver- Whiting. 



It will be seen on referring to the article ' Conger ' that the 

 gear is of the same fashion as for Whiting, but heavier and 

 stronger, and with three swivels ; this is well adapted for Cod- 

 fishing. The banker's lead is much used in Newfoundland 

 (fig. 6, p. 41), and the Sprool Rig in the North Sea (p. 37). 

 The North Sea smacks catch a great quantity of fish drifting, 

 laid to. 



The vessels belonging to the North Sea Fishing Station of 

 Lerwick in Shetland, when they leave for the fishing-grounds in 

 April, are each provided with a square sail containing about 

 one hundred and thirty yards of canvas, which when fishing is 

 attached to warps and put overboard to act as a drag and check 

 driftage. 



This of course it does not entirely effect, but nevertheless 

 checks the drift of the vessel very considerably, so that she does 

 not travel over the ground nearly as fast as would otherwise be 

 the case by the action of the wind or tide on her hull and 

 rigging. The fishing-vessels return towards the end of August. 



NEWFOUNDLAND COD-FISHERY. 



'The Great Bank of Newfoundland is an extensive shoal 

 lying to the south-east of the island, measuring upwards of 

 three hundred and thirty miles in length, and about seventy- 

 five in width, the water varying in depth from sixteen to sixty 

 fathoms. 



