16 HISTOEY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



credibly informed, a schooner would sail along, dropping her dories 2 or 3 miles apart, and in that 

 way a single set of the trawl-lines, set parallel with the shore, would stretch along 12 or 15 miles 

 of the coast. In this case the dories were provided with sails, and their crews, after hauling their 

 gear, would set sail and steer for the vessel, thus shortening the time of their arrival on board. 



The fishermen from the ports on Long Island Sound have adopted somewhat different methods 

 from those just described, which apply more particularly to the Gloucester fishermen, who, par 

 excellence, are the halibut fishermen of New England. The former usually fish on George's Bank, 

 Brown's Bank, and the Seal Island Ground, where the tide is strong and the water not of extraor- 

 dinary depth. In these localities it has been found desirable for the. boats, after setting their gear, 

 to remain at its outer end until the tide slacks, which is the time for hauling. This practice, 

 according to Tripland, still continues. 



HAULING TRAWLS. The length of time which a trawl is allowed to remain out before being 

 hauled varies from two to fifteen or eighteen hours, in fine weather. In rough weather several 

 days may elapse before a fitting opportunity offers to perform this operation. If the chances are 

 equally favorable it is customary to begin hauling at the outer end of the trawl, although the 

 direction of the wind or current influences the fishermen in making their choice. The dories may 

 sail or row to the outer ends of the trawls, as circumstances may permit. If the wind is ahead, of 

 course the oars must be depended upon, and, as previously stated, sails are seldom carried in 

 winter. But in summer it is often a lively scene to witness the dories leaving the vessel's side 

 under sail, with a leading breeze, and all starting off on a race for their outer buoys. When the 

 buoy is reached the oars are "shipped" in and placed where they will be least in the way, or on the 

 side opposite to that on which the trawl is to be hauled ; sometimes the blades are tucked through 

 the stern becket and the handles shoved well aft. 



The hurdy-gurdy or crank-winch for heaving up the trawls is then rigged in its place on the bow 

 of the dory, and the " roller" is placed in position on one side of the bow. A turn is taken with the 

 buoy-line around the barrel of the hurdy-gurdy by the man in the bow of the dory, who reaches 

 the buoy (to which the end of the buoy-line is fastened) to his dory mate in the stern. The latter 

 now takes his place in the after compartment, holding on the buoy-line, hauling and coiling it 

 at the same time, while the man at the bow kneels down, and grasping the handle of the winch, 

 turns it around, over and over, in a laborious manner, until all the buoy line (frequently 350 to SCO 

 fathoms) is hove in, and the anchor is at the bow. The turns are then taken off the hurdy-gurdy, 

 and the anchor pulled in over the boat's bow, and when a few fathoms of trawl are in, the latter is 

 unbent and the anchor placed on the side of the dory, with one arm over the boat's gunwale and 

 the stock resting against her side. The man standing aft now spreads a skate in the bottom of 

 the dory, between his feet, and the trawl, as fast as it is pulled in, is coiled on this skate. Unless 

 there is a very heavy strain on the trawl, it is hauled over the roller, though it often is necessary 

 to employ the hurdy-gurdy to heave in the line, which in many instances becomes so firmly 

 attached to the bottom that it breaks and is lost. No little skill is required in the use of the 

 trawl-winch in rough weather to prevent the dory from being capsized. When the boat has no 

 fish in and sits lightly on the water, she is rather crank, and at such times if she rises quickly on 

 the slope of a wave, with a heavy strain on the line, she is liable to turn over. The man who is 

 holding the line must watch every motion very carefully, for should he fail to slack the line at 

 the right instant, over goes his dory, gunwale under, and he and his companion are thrown into 

 the sea. It is altogether possible that lives have been lost in this manner, as well as by reckless 

 overloading of dories, though it may fairly be assumed that such accidents are rare. 



What has been said of setting and hauling trawls (especially the latter) applies more particu- 



