SALT-HALIBUT FISHERY. 109 



composed, as already stated, of 50-fathom pieces requires that each of these pieces should have a 

 loop spliced in one end, while the other is fastened by what the sailors call a "wall," so that it 

 will not untwist. The loops and walls finished, and six of the 50-fathom pieces tied together, the 

 ground-line is ready for the attachment of the gangings, which are then fastened to it at every 2 

 fathoms. Besides the ground-lines and gangings, the buoys, buoy-lines, and anchors had to be 

 made ready, but as these have already been mentioned they will need no further notice here. In 

 doing these things the men would sometimes be in the cabin, forecastle, or on deck, just as con- 

 venience and fancy inclined them. 



The only difference between Sunday and any oth"er~day in the week was that no nail must bo 

 driven on that day, for they said that would " nail the trip." Their superstitions are a little curious. 

 The old notion that any enterprise commenced on Friday would be unlucky has, in a great measure, 

 disappeared, on account of the fishermen having read in the papers a long list of great events that- 

 had happened on Friday. The objection to hammering on Sunday was so strong that the captain 

 delayed fixing a part of the rigging from Sunday until Monday on this account. 



The food during the trip was excellent of its kind. Fresh meat and vegetables were, from the 

 nature of the case, out of the question, but the salt meat could not have been better, and fresh 

 halibut and cod, while the fishing continued, were ever available. There was no milk of any kind, 

 and no canned vegetables. Only enough potatoes were taken to last a few days. A little variety 

 was noticed in the meals on Sunday, for on this day the cook added baked beans and brown bread 

 to the bill of fare. Pea soup was common. Tea was prepared for each meal, and coffee for break- 

 fast, and occasionally also for dinner, but both of these had to be taken without milk. Eice pud- 

 ding and the famous dish of "duff" appeared occasionally. Neither were we without our mince 

 pies, for the cook made some very fair ones out of dried apples and salt meat. Sugar, butter, and 

 molasses were only wanting the last two weeks. The water obtained in Greenland was excellent, 

 as well as that taken from Gloucester. 



The most regular meal was dinner, which came about noon. The other meals were more or 

 less interfered with by the fishing, but while we were on the passage out and back breakfast came 

 about 6 a. in. and supper about 5 p. m. 



The course taken coming home was the reverse of that going. Those who have been to Green- 

 land after halibut several years say that after August 20 the N eather will permit of but little fish- 

 ing. Our captain, however, having some salt left, decided to remain a little longer, so we did not 

 start for home until the 28th of August. Then followed the active preparations for going home. 

 The first thing was the bringing on board the barrels of fins, and the careful heading up of these. 

 Next came the repacking of the flitches. After flitches have been packed ten or twelve days, for 

 the first time, they are usually repacked in a more compact form and a little more salt added. 

 During the fishing the packing had been mostly forward of amidships, so that the bow of the ves- 

 sel was low down in the water, and to trim the vessel better the flitches were repacked farther 

 aft. The trawls were also unrigged and packed away in the hold, but the cleaning of the vessel 

 was left until we were south of the Straits of Belle Isle. 



The decks being cleared, and the dories lashed in their places amidships, we started for home 

 August 28. For the first few days the wind favored us, but before reaching Belle Isle it died out, 

 and most of the time after that was unfavorable in direction or a dead calm. 



Getting south of the Straits of Belle Isle we found the climate much different from that in 

 Davis' Strait. The captain had brought a bushel or so of very fine black sand from Holstcinborg, 

 and this was now used to scrub the vessel clean of fish slime which bad been collecting ever since 

 the fishing commenced. 



