THE FROZEN-HERRING INDUSTRY. 453 



The lumber is usually purchased in some convenient harbor along the coast on the outward 

 passage, and as soon as the vessel reaches the harbor the work of building begins, and as the crew 

 are usually unskilled mechanics it is generally three or four days before the scaffold is ready for use. 

 The journal of Mr. Augustus Dower, of the schooner Victor, of Gloucester, gives the following 

 description of its construction : 



" Strong scantling are selected, and, after being carefully spliced together, are propped up and 

 securely lashed to the shrouds of the vessel about seven feet above the deck. These scantling 

 extend from bow to stern on either side of the vessel. Shorter scantling are now laid across these 

 stringers, on which the boards are nailed. After the platform has been made, boards are put up 

 along either side to prevent the fish from sliding off, and, after being thoroughly propped from 

 beneath, the scaffold is complete." 



The scaffolds vary considerably, according to the size of the vessel, the average dimensions 

 being ninety to one hundred feet long and twenty-five feetwide. As soon as the trip has been secured, 

 the platform is taken down and the lumber is sold to the islanders, who usually contract for it as 

 soon as the vessel arrives. The quantity of fish to be placed on the scaffold varies considerably, 

 according to the weather. When the temperature is little below the freezing-point the fish must 

 be spread very thin in order that those underneath may be thoroughly frozen ; but, with a lower 

 temperature, the fish can be heaped together to a depth of a foot or more, though in such cases it 

 is necessary to turn them every few hours. 



When the scaffold has been filled the remainder of the catch is often spread upon the deck of 

 the vessel, where it remains until frozen. The greatest care is necessary in this work, and parties 

 must be constantly watching the weather, day and night, to guard against loss from a sudden rise 

 of temperature or a storm of rain or snow. The watch usually turns the fish with shovels or stirs 

 them with his feet every few hours, and during storms of snow it becomes necessary to work con- 

 stantly among them to keep them from being covered up and injured. This process is called 

 "picking." 



When the weather becomes warm, so that the fish would be thawed by exposure, it becomes 

 necessary to "heap" them or shovel them into piles and carefully cover them with canvas or other 

 material that will protect them from the weather. When the change comes suddenly all hands are 

 sometimes kept busy for several hours in placing those below that are thoroughly frozen and in 

 carefully covering the others on the scaffold or on deck. 



It frequently happens that fish that have not been thoroughly frozen are placed in the hold for 

 protection against continued warm weather. In such cases they must bo again taken out and 

 refrozen as soon as the weather is suitable for the purpose. The fish treated in this manner are 

 considered inferior to those frozen during the first exposure. 



The usual method of ascertaining whether a fish is sufficiently frozen is by breaking. If the 

 herring bends at all in the hand it is not frozen sufficiently ; but if it breaks short, like a dry stick, 

 it is considered ready to be packed in the hold. 



In New Brunswick and, to a certain extent, in Newfoundland the fish are frozen by the fisher- 

 men who catch them. After being taken from the nets they are brought to the shore in baskets 



down, boards are laid over them, fore and aft, openings being left over the hatchways through which to shove the her- 

 ring into the hold. Indentations are also formed in the sides of the platform abreast of the hatchways to allow the 

 herring to bo hoisted np from the boats. For additional support to the scaffold, tackles are attached to the main 

 boom topping-lift and jib-stay. During gales or heavy storms the sails are lowered down, so that they rest on the 

 scaffold, thus preventing it from being blown away. The fore gaff and sail, when hoisted up, are secured to the main 

 rigging by a guy from the after end of the gaff. As many as one hundred and twenty barrels of herring have been 

 frozen at one time on the schooner Centennial's scaffold." 



