82 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



sail aud staysail, we worked to windward of the Williams, aud at 5 p. in. anchored a berth NNW. 

 of her in 130 fathoms. I spoke one of her dories while we were beating up to our new berth. The 

 men told me that they got 15,000 pounds of halibut to-day. After anchoring, we set eighteen 

 skates of trawl. It was snowing when the men went out to set. Barometer at 5 p. in., 29.60. 



I saw five vessels under way to day; one under whole sail beat up from to leeward, aud now 

 (5.30 p. in.) is up to the Williams; one to leeward 6 or 7 miles made a short berth; one to wind- 

 ward about the same distance made a short berth. I saw two others just in sight to \\iud\yard, 

 and I think they are running this way, but am not certain. The one I saw under whole sail proved 

 to be the Laura Nelson. She spoke us at 7 p. m., and said there were twenty -five sail of vessels 

 to the southward "doing nothing," which, in fishermen's vernacular, means getting no fish. She 

 anchored a berth NW. of us this evening. 



Saturday, February 8, 1879. The first of this a. m. we had frequent snow-squalls. The day 

 began dark and cloudy, with a strong north-northwest wind. Barometer at C a. m., 29.55. The 

 wind gradually increased, until at eleven it blew heavy and there were frequent smart snow-squalls. 

 We stuck out some more cable. The wind blew strong all the afternoon, and there was a rough 

 breaking sea. It is nothing unusual while sitting in the cabin for one to look out of the com- 

 panion-way and see the water dripping off the end of the main-boom ; for when the vessel's stern 

 falls in the hollow of a sharp sea the end of the boom is frequently immersed to a depth of two or 

 three feet. The cook set a short "bull-tow" (18 Looks) this afternoon and caught 6 fine halibut. 

 Barometer at 8.30 p. m., 29.70. 



Sunday, February 9, 1879. The wind blew a gale all of the past night, and at daylight this 

 morning it had abated very little. The wind was northwest, with a bad cross sea heaving from 

 the westward. Barometer at 7 a. m., 29.95. 



I feel very anxious about the gear we have out. It is exceedingly trying to one'is patience to 

 know that there are plenty of halibut here and to have no chance to catch them. Since a few fine 

 days would, in all probability, enable us to get a good fare, we indulge the hope of soon having 

 better weather. It was colder to-day than I have seen it since we have been on the Bank. There 

 was little or no change in the wind until late in the afternoon, when it lulled a bit and hauled to 

 NNW. Barometer at 6 p. m., 30.15 ; at 8.30 p. m., 30.20. 



The cook caught four halibut on his bull-tow this afternoon. At 7.30 p. m., though it still 

 blew a strong breeze, we began to heave in cable, and hove as short as we dare to do, since if we 

 got too short a scope the vessel might go adrift. 



Monday, February 10, 1879. At daylight this morning a southeast snow-storm was prevail- 

 ing a most undesirable condition of the weather. The wind began to breeze up at 2.30 a. m. and 

 freshened very fast, while the barometer fell rapidly, and at 6 a. m. was on 29.85. 



With the wind in this direction, all of our trawls were dead to leeward ; and as it was blowing 

 smart and rapidly increasing in strength, it was out of the question to try to get them. It is 

 nevertheless very discouraging to have trawls, which are worth hundreds of dollars (aud in all 

 probability as many hundred dollars' worth of fish on them), setting so long, with no chance to 

 get them. The longer they remain out the smaller the probability becomes of ever getting them 

 at all. It is difficult under such circumstances for one to muster philosophy enough to endure it 

 with patience. 



At 7.30 a. m. it blew a gale. We gave her nearly the whole string of cable (about 375 fathoms 

 we have out), reefed foresail and ridingsail; set dories amidships, &c. Barometer at 8.30 a. m., 

 29.CO. Ten a. m., smart SSE. gale and thick snow. At 10.35 the watch sang out, "Here's a 

 feller drifting down close to us." We were all on deck in a minute, but the first glance showed 



