162 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Wednesday tuoruiug the skipper judged from bis log that we must be neaving Cape Broyle, but 

 the land was wrapped iu a thick fog and he could not determine his position. In the middle of 

 the forenoon the fog lifted and there lay Gape Broyle on our port quarter ; we were just passing 

 it. He at once put about and we were soon in the harbor, having made the run, something over 

 4' miles, in forty hours. 



"We remained at Cape Broyle till the 25th, during which time we tilled the water barrels and 

 purchased the first baiting of squid, then made sail for the Grand Bank to try our luck with the 

 codfish. During this, the "first baiting," the skipper kept continually on the move, making a 

 new berth every day. The catch of fish was not large at any place and grew smaller every day as 

 the bait became more and more injured by keeping. The latitudes and longitudes given in the 

 following table of fish taken are those received from the skipper: 



Table of fiiU taken. 

 FIEST BAITING. 



The weather during the first baiting was extremely unpleasant. At the very start the fishing 

 was interrupted by a storm of wind that lasted three days and made the sea too rough to allow of 

 the dories venturing out. After this the sea became more quiet, but the noted Newfoundland 

 fogs came down and were scarcely absent during the remainder of the baiting. The temperature 

 was very agreeable. The thermometer did not at any time fall below 50, averaged about 56, 

 and at times rose above 60. The water did not vary much iu temperature from the temperature 

 of tlic air, averaging one or two degrees lower. A record of temperatures and the weather was 

 kept; the observations are tabulated at the close of this introduction. 



After making 11 sets and capturing C7 tubs, or about 23,000 pounds of split fish, the bait 

 became exhausted, and we returned to the land for a fresh supply. We headed the vessel for 

 Cape Spear, near Saint John's, and "came to an anchor" in Freshwater Cove on August 9, a little 

 after midday. This cove is just round South Head, the left promontory as one is entering Saint 

 John's harbor, and is so convenient to the city that the skippers often avoid the high harbor fees 

 by anchoring iu it and rowing into the city for business. A heavy "easterly" was blowing, but 

 the skipper determined to row into the city in spite of the heavy sea and attend to his business. 

 From Saint John's we went to Tor Bay, Carbonear, and King's Cove in succession, in sea:ch of bait, 

 but could not find any. At last we made our way into Open Hall, a very small fishing hamlet in 

 Bonavista Bay, and, after lying there nearly a week, picked up a few squid and with them 

 returned to the Banks. 



The second baiting was used in a single Ivrtli, latitude 45 4', longitude 50 33'. At this 

 place the fish bit well so long as our bait remained fresh. On the 30th of August a "breeze of 

 wind" broke us adrift from our moorings and favored our immediate departure for laud to obtain 



