86 HISTOEY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



ticnlar time, for the good prospects which we had for obtaining a fine fare of halibut are thus 

 ruined in an hour, since we have not cable enough left to ride in deep water. After we got the 

 cable in, we set bank-sail and worked back to our gear. There was not more than a whole sail 

 breeze at this time, but the sea still ran very high and sharp. As it was too late to haul the 

 trawls before dark (with such a rough sea the gear would be liable to part, even if the dories did 

 not upset), I concluded to keep under short sail through the night and "jog" around the Dolliver 

 and Williams, the latter of which lay a berth to the northward of the Dolliver. I did not dare 

 anchor for fear it might blow up; in which case we should certainly go adrift and thus lose all 

 chance of getting our gear. By keeping under sail we can, if it blows up, run on the Bank into 

 shallow water, only a short distance from our gear, and anchor. When it moderates we can then 

 heave ap and run back to it. 



I went aboard of the Dolliver at 4 p. m. The skipper said he left home the 1st instant, was in 

 Halifax the 3d, where he saw the Howard, which was in there for repairs. She had been knocked 

 down in the gale of the 26th and 27th of January, had her deck swept, losing anchor and 80 fathoms 

 of cable, also some of her dories. The Dolliver went adrift in the late gale. 1 returned to the 

 Marion at 5 p. m. Barometer at 5.30, 29.90. Hazy looking in the WSW., but clear elsewhere. 



Since there was a fresh breeze at this time we double reefed the foresail and took the bonnet 

 out of the jib, in order to have the vessel under easy sail for the night. At 8 p. in. it was very dark, 

 and we came near getting afoul the Doliiver's bow. Special orders had been given the watch 

 not to cross her bow unless it was at a long distance. They mistook the distance until it was too 

 late to keep off; the wind moderated just then, and the tide setting to leeward came near drifting 

 us afoul of her. As it was, we cleared her by about a vessel's length. We then set the whole 

 foresail, and giving strict orders to the watch not to cross her bow at all, I went below and 

 turned in. 



Friday February 14, 1879. The first part of this a. m. it was very moderate, wind backing to 

 the SW. Ihe wind, which was very light in the morning, finally died away calm at 9 a. m. We 

 had light showers of rain and hail in the morning; sky overcast, dull, and rainy looking. 



At 5 a. m. called all hands, put the bonnet in the jib, and set the staysail. Barometer at this 

 time, 29.95. As soon as it was fairly light we "hove" out the dories, and the men started for the 

 trawls. We got all our trawls and two and a half skates that we had previously lost, on which 

 were 4,000 pounds of halibut, besides what we reserved for bait. The object of saving some for 

 bait was because if the weather looks favorable we shall make a set under sail to-morrow. The 

 last dory was aboard at 1.30 p. m., at which time there was a light southwest air springing up, so 

 we kept off to run to the northward, as it is my intention to go as far as Green Bank, if the wind 

 is favorable. The Dolliver and Williams both got under way and ran in the same direction. 



The last part of the afternoon we had light westerly airs and calms. Since there were some 

 indications of an easterly wind, I was in doabt for a while what to do, whether to start for home at 

 once or stop longer on the Bank. At last I concluded to have another trial, and we baited twelve 

 skates of trawl for that purpose just before dark. Barometer, at 7 p. m., 30.00. 



Saturday, February 15, 1879. At 3 p. m. the wind, which had been out as far as E., backed to 

 N. by E., snowing very thick. We hove to for awhile to await developments. The N". H. Phillips 

 spoke us at 4.30 a. m. She was under bank-sail, heading to the NW. We stood along with her, 

 and just before daylight sounded in C5 fathoms, muddy bottom. Barometer, at 5 a. m., 29.90. As 

 soon as it was daylight the Phillips set her mainsail. We did the same, and headed to the west- 

 ward on a wind. Soon after that I saw another vessel about 7 miles to windward, under whole 



