436 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



on this account, as the shore herring fisheries have not been sufficiently developed to furnish them 

 vith an abundance of fish. 



A portion of the fleet engaged in the George's cod fishery visit the southern shores of Cape 

 Cod, or even go as far as Long Island Sound, to secure a supply of menhaden a,nd alewives, rather 

 than run the risk of finding herring on the coast of Maine. In the winter, when frozen fish can 

 be obtained, there is usually an abundant supply in Gloucester ; but when these are no longer to 

 be had the George's-meu must depend wholly on fish bait and must secure their supply before 

 starting for the fishing banks. For this purpose they usually proceed to the nearer herring 

 grounds on the coast of Maine ; but if fish cannot be obtained in these localities they work 

 eastward, stopping at the various bait-stations until a supply has been secured. It frequently 

 happens that from ten to twenty -five vessels may be seen in the same harbor waiting their turns 

 to secure a supply, and those coming last are often obliged to wait four or five days or even a 

 week before a sufficient quantity can be obtained. 



The vessels engaged in the George's cod fisheries range from 50 to 75 tons, the average being 

 a trifle over 60 tons. These carry from nine to twelve men, and are fitted for an absence of four or 

 five weeks, though the average trip does not exceed twenty days. A fair catch is 25,000 pounds 

 of split fish, or 50,000 pounds as they come from the water. In the hope of securing a full fare a 

 "George's-man" usually carries as much bait as will be needed under ordinary circumstances. An 

 average quantity is from 25 to 30 barrels for a trip. The price of the herring varies according to 

 supply and demand, the average being from 75 cents to $1 per barrel. 



When the fish have been caught they are brought at once to the vessel, where they are care- 

 fully packed in ice in one of the bait-pens located in the forward part of the ice-house. The method 

 of packing is similar to that employed in " stowing the bait" in the vessels engaged in the Grand 

 Bank cod-fisheries, a description of which will be given farther on. 



Herring as ordinarily packed will keep in good condition for two or three weeks, after which 

 they become so soft that they will not remain on the hook for any length of time, and are therefore 

 of little value. 



The greater part of the bait used by the George's fishermen during the summer months is pur- 

 chased from the various weir and net fishermen of the coast of Maine and Massachusetts, though 

 in the spring and fall a few vessels visit the fishing grounds of New Brunswick to secure their 

 supply, and in seasons of peculiar scarcity vessels have gone as far east as Pubnico, Nova Scotia. 

 In the Western and Grand Bank cod-fisheries most of the vessels measure between CO and 100 

 tons, the average being about 75 tons. A few of larger size are also employed, some of them 

 measuring upward of 120 tons. 



The vessels frequenting the Western Bank are gone from five to ten weeks, while those 

 visiting the Grand Bank are absent from three to five months. The number of men carried by these 

 vessels depends largely upon the method of fishing. Those using trawls average from twelve to 

 fourteen men each, while the largest of those engaged in " hand-lining from dories " carry twenty 

 or more men. The last-named vessels are provided with salt clams, and seldom use any herring in 

 the fishery. Most of the trawlers, on the contrary, depend almost wholly upon fresh herring, 

 with the exception of the summer months, when capelin (Mallotus villosus) and squid (Ommastre- 

 phes illecebrosa) are used. The entire supply, with few exceptions, is obtained along the coast 

 of the British Provinces, the greater part being secured at Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, though 

 considerable quantities are purchased from the fishermen of New Brunswick. The vessels fishing 

 in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence usually obtained their supply in that region. 



As soon as the vessel js fitted out for the fishery she proceeds to one of the "baiting stations," 



