LABRADOR AND GULF OP SAINT LAWRENCE COD FISHERIES. 133 



When fish were plenty, and could be caught equally well both night and day, the crew was 

 divided into two gangs, the men fishing watch and watch, each gang dressing its own catch after 

 the next watch took the deck. Sometimes, however, when the cod could be caught during only a 

 portion of the twenty-four hours, all of the men fished while it was most profitable to do so, be that 

 either night or day, and slept the rest of the time always, of course, dressing the fish before 

 turning in. 



Salt clams (Mya arenaria) and menhaden slivers were used as the principal bait, though bank 

 clams and hags, when obtainable, were also utilized for the same purpose, being preferred to salt 

 bait. 



2. THE LABRADOR AND GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE COD 



FISHERIES. 



BY G. BROWN GOODE AND J. W. COLLINS. 

 1. EARLY HISTORY. 



This fishery, in years past participated in by various New England ports, is now of very slight 

 importance. In 1879 not a single vessel from the United States fished on the coast of Labrador, 

 though it is said that before the war of 1812 several hundred American vessels were engaged in 

 this fishery. In 1880 a single vessel from Newburyport visited this coast, returning with 1,000 

 quintals of cod and 400 barrels of herring. In 1878, also, a single vessel from Newburyport was on 

 this coast. In 1817 Newburyport had a Labrador fleet of 60 schooners, 1 brig, and 4 sloops ; in 

 1860, a fleet of 16 vessels; in 1870, 26 to 30 in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; in 1872, 2 on the coast 

 of Labrador. The Gloucester Telegraph of June 15, 1870, contained the following paragraph : 



"Only two vessels, the Edward Lee and White Sea, have gone to Labrador from Newburyport 

 this season. They are in the employ of Messrs. Boardman and Sanborn, who have pursued this 

 business for the past thirty years, and although it does not pay as well as it should, they take a 

 pride in keeping alive this branch of industry which was once so prominent there. It is only a 

 few years since quite a large fleet went to Labrador, and codfish seemed more plenty then. Now 

 they depend upon herring to make themselves whole." 



In 1820, according to the estimate of Captain Robinson, of the English navy, there were 530 

 sail of American schooners, with a few sloops and brigs, engaged in this fishery. The number of 

 men employed was estimated at 5,830. 



The aggregate catch of the United States fishermen was estimated at 530,000 quintals, and 

 the catch of English fishermen, in the same waters and about the same time, 134,580 quintals.! 



The fishery in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence was also extensively prosecuted in years past, in part 

 by vessels going to or returning from Labrador and in part by a special fleet of vessels. At pres- 

 ent the number of vessels engaged in this fishery is very limited. In 1881 the number of these 

 hailing from Provincetown was 12, and few or none engage in this fishery from other New England 

 ports. In 1882 10,300 quintals of cod were taken in this fishery by 15 vessels from Provincetown 

 and other Massachusetts ports. 



The history of the Labrador and Gulf fishery cannot now be presented in any detail. The 

 time at our command will not allow the necessary elaboration of the extensive material in the 



* Journal of Geographical Society, 1834. t Hind, op. tit., p. i, p. 163. 



