FRESH-HALIBUT FISHEKY. 17 



larly to the deep-water fishing along the outer slopes of the great fishing banks where halibut are 

 now chiefly sought. 



The method of hauling in shallow water near the laud, where halibut are sometimes found in 

 summer, is quite different. The halibut, following in after the schools of capelin which visit the 

 shores cf Western Newfoundland, Southern Labrador, and the islands of Auticosti and Miquelon 

 to spawn, have often been found in great abundance in very shallow water, say not above 5 to 10 

 fathoms. Here it is frequently possible to notice the fish biting at the hooks, and, of course, no 

 hurdy-gurdy is required, and even the patent roller is_little needed. There is comparatively little 

 work in hauling the trawl unless there may be a considerable number of fish on it, in which case the 

 fishermen have a lively time. Halibut that are caught in shallow water are exceedingly active, and 

 frequently make a hard fight. When a fish of 100 to 200 pounds weight is raised from the bottom 

 on a trawl, he will usually start off at great speed, making the dory spin around in his effort to 

 escape. Of course he cannot run far in one direction, for the weight of the gear is too much for 

 him to drag over the bottom. After awhile he is sufficiently tired out to be hauled alongside of 

 the dory, and if the fisherman is expert enough to hit his fish two or three smart raps over the 

 nose with a "killer," the halibut succumbs and is pulled into the boat. It is often the case, how- 

 ever, that considerable difficulty is experienced in effecting the capture of a large fish, and it is by 

 no means an unusual circumstance for one to escape. One of the authors recalls such an episode, 

 which he witnessed in the shallow water near Miquelou Beach. 



Two men were out hauling a trawl in about seven fathoms of water, a short distance from the 

 vessel. They worked along quietly for awhile, when suddenly the dory started off at a tremendous 

 speed, towed by a big halibut, which had been started from the bottom, and which, in his efforts 

 to escape, darted about wildly, pulling the boat alter him, and careening her at a considerable 

 angle. By dexterous management he was, after awhile, brought to the surface; the man aft 

 quietly pulled up on the ganging until the fish broke water, when an iron gaff was driven into its 

 head. The doryman had made the mistake of gaffing his fish before it was stunned, and as a 

 result 110 sooner was the gaff in the halibut than the latter made a tremendous splurge, twisted 

 the implement out of the fisherman's hand, and, getting a fair start, made a run to the bottom. 

 Another quarter of an hour was required to again get him alongside of the dory. This time there 

 was no gaff, and to serve in its place the doryman had cast off the trawl anchor from the buoy- 

 line. When he got the halibut's head above water, he drove the flue of the 10-pound anchor into 

 the fish, which he made sure he would hold that time. But he was mistaken. The halibut, as 

 before, escaped, taking with him the anchor, almost pulling the man out of the boat, which was 

 nearly capsized, and carrying away the hook, which this time he tore from the trawl. 



Fishermen who have watched halibut near the land, being able to see them perfectly well 

 in the clear, shallow water, state that these fish exhibit marked peculiarities in biting at baited 

 hooks' on a trawl. The halibut will advance to the bait, apparently smell of it, and then retreat 4 

 or 5 feet from it, always lying on the bottom, head toward the bait, as if watching it. After 

 repeating this performance several times generally three or four the fish seems to make up its 

 mind to eat the bait, and, suddenly darting toward it, swallows it down with a gulp. 



The George's hand-line fishermen believe that halibut often strike the baited hooks with their 

 tails. It is not uncommon on board a George's man to hear a fisherman remark, "There's a hali- 

 but around; I felt him strike my gear." When a halibut has announced his presence in this way 

 it is scarcely necessary to say that every effort is put forth by the fisherman to attract the fish to 

 his hooks, and if the man is sufficiently skillful he generally succeeds in capturing the fish. 



UNLOADING THE DORIES. When a load of fish is brought alongside of the vessel, two of the 

 SRC v 2 



