N E Vv'- F O U N D L A N D FISHERY. ^ 45, 



The mountains on the fouth-weft fide, near the fea, are very high, and termi- 

 nate in lofty headlands. Such are Chapeau rouge, a moft remarkably high pro- 

 montory ; Cape St. Marfs, and Cape le Hune. Such in general is the formation 

 of the iiland : on the north- eaft, moft of the hills in the interior parts of the country 

 terminate pyramidally, but form no chain. The interior parts of the country confift 

 chiefly of morafles, or dry barren hummocks, or level land, with frequent lakes 

 or ponds, and in fome places covered v^ith ftunted black fpruce. The rivers of 

 Newfoundland are unfit for navigation,, but they are of ufe in floating down the 

 wood with the fummer floods. Still the rivers and the brooks are excellent guides 

 for the hunters of beavers,, and other animals, to penetrate up the country ; 

 which as yet has never been done deeper than thirty miles. Near the brooks it is. 

 that timber is commonly met with, but feldom above three or four miles inland, 

 and in vallies ; the hills in the northern diftricSl: being naked and barren. 



In iome ^3.rts o( Neiufoundland thsrt is timber fufficiently large for the build-- 

 jng of merchant fnips : the hulk is made of juniper, and the pine furnifhes mafts 

 and" yards; but as yet none has been found large enough for a maft for a larga 

 cutter. 



The fifhery is divided into two feafons : that on the fhore, or the fliore feafon, 

 commences about the 20th of April, and ends about the lOth of OStoher ; the 

 boats flfh in from four to twenty fathoms water. 



The moft important, the bank-fifliing feafon, begins the loth of il/iTy, and' 

 continues till the laft oi September, and carried on in thirty to forty-five fathoms 

 dfepth of water. 



Banking veffels have failed from St. fohrCs to the bank as early as the i2th of 

 April. At firft they ufe pork or birds for a bait ; but as they catch fifli, they 

 fupply themfelves with a fliell fifti called clams, which is found in the belly of the cod. 

 The next bait is the lobfter ; after that, the herring, and the launcej Br. Zool. III. 

 No. 66, which laft till June, when the capelan comes on the coaft, and is ano- 

 ther bait. In y/«^z//? the y^«/^ comes into ufe, and finally the herring again. 



The greateft number of cod-fifh taken by a fingle fifherman in the feafxjn, has 

 been twelve thoufand ; but the average is feven thoufand. The largeft fifli 

 which has been taken was four feet three inches long, and weighed forty-fix 

 pounds. 



A banking veffel of ten thoufand fifh ought to be filled in three weeks, and fo in 

 proportion ; and eighty quintals (ii2lb. each) for a boat in the fame time. 



In 1785, five hundred and forty-one EngUjh veffels fifhed on the bank ; a 

 number exceeding that of the French, 



JO. , A. heag 



