FRESH-HALIBUT F1SUHUY. 23 



aucl sour for from 1 to 2 cents per pound. Tbe distinction between sour Lalibut and that which 

 is not sour is doubtless a valid one, but that between white and gray is of little importance, since, 

 in the hands of the retail dealers, there is seldom, if ever, any difference in price. There is no 

 reason why the gray halibut, as they are called, should not be exactly as firm in flesh and deli- 

 cate in flavor as the white. The distinction was first made by the Gloucester Halibut Com- 

 pany, established in 1848, in order to avoid the carrying out to the letter of their contracts with 

 the fishermen, and since that time it has uniformly been made use of, to the disadvantage of the 

 fishermen. It is not our intention to criticise the motives of the halibut merchants in this respect, 

 but simply to call attention to the fact that the existence of an arbitrary distinction of this sort is 

 extremely unfortunate, since it gives to the capitalists the opportunity of treating the fishermen 

 with great injustice. The cullings are made entirely by the purchaser and the fishermen have no 

 right to criticise their judgment, and no right to appeal. The manner of culling is varied arbitra- 

 rily, from time to time, in accordance with the necessities of the buyers. At times a very large 

 percentage of the catch of a vessel will be counted as gray, or even as sour, and paid for at reduced 

 rates. If the terms of the bargain previously made with the fishermen were justly carried out, the 

 value would be very much greater than that which was actually paid for the fish. We do not 

 deny that the buyers Heel some necessity for some such safety-valve as this in the present condi- 

 tion of the halibut fishery, since sometimes eight or ten large cargoes of fish are brought in at one 

 time, glutting the market to an uncontrollable extent;* at the same time some more equitable means 

 of regulating the price in accordance with the supply is very much to be desired. Under exist- 

 ing circumstances, perhaps the most desirable remedy would be the appointment of some inspector 

 who would cull the fish in accordance with some uniform rule, thus doing away with the feeling of 

 injustice which is constantly felt by the fishermen. In the winter of 1878 the feeling against this 

 system of culling was so strong among the owners and masters of the Massachusetts halibut ves- 

 sels in Gloucester, that an attempt was made to organize a company of fishing firms, which should 

 take the matter of handling the fresh halibut into its own hands. This, however, was unsuccessful, 

 owing to the lack of unanimity among the fishing capitalists. The manner of weighing the halibut 

 is also open to objection of the same kind. Fish are bought from the vessels with their heads on 

 and weighed, and 14 per cent, of the total weight is deducted, this being supposed to represent 

 the weight of the heads. This percentage, however, is considerably too large; then, too, the 

 weighing is done by the purchaser with beam scales, and the fishermen complain that undue advan- 

 tage is taken by the weighers. The employment of some impartial person as weigher would do 

 much to allay the dissatisfaction felt and expressed by the halibut fishermen. 



9. FINANCIAL PEOF1TS AND EXTENT OF THE FISHERY. 



THE LAY. The " lay," or division of the proceeds of the voyage, is given in detail in the 

 chapter on " Lays and Outfits." Briefly stated it is as follows : From the gross receipts of money 

 obtained from the sale of the fish are deducted certain "stock" charges, these embracing expense 

 for ice, bait, towing by steaia-tug, woolen nippers, &c. The balance is called the " net" stock, and 

 this is equally divided, the vessel receiving one-half, while the other half, after charges for splitting 

 wood, filling water, medicine chest, tarring rigging, painting spars, and one-half of 1 per cent, for 

 widows' and orphans' fund, are deducted, is divided equally between the members of the crew, 

 the captain and cook included. In addition to his share obtained by this division the captain 

 receives a percentage on the net stock, this being usually 4 per cent., though in some cases a 



* This statement applies more particularly to the fishery previous to 1881, at which time a larger fleet was employed 

 and more fish were taken than at present (1885); nevertheless what is said of the method of colling and weighing 

 halibut applies equally well now, and it is not less objectionable now than in former years. 



