FISHEKIES. 31 



Orthography. — Many of the place names in Newfoundland were 

 originally French, but, owing to the pronunciation of the fishermen, 

 they have become so corrupted as to be difficult of recognition as such. 

 For instance, anse a Loup is known to the fishermen as " Lancy Loo ;" 

 anse Eclair as " Lancy Clair," and Peignoir as " Pinware." 



Fisheries. — The cod fisheries of Newfoundland are more valu- 

 able than those of any other country, and the fishing grounds would 

 appear capable of yielding an almost inexhaustible supply, but of 

 late years, owing to reckless and destructive fishing and the introduc- 

 tion of engines of such a character as to destroy gravid and even 

 immature fish, there has been a perceptible decline in the yearly 

 catch. The comparatively modern implements used are cod traps, 

 large seine nets, small mesh nets, bultows, or long lines, and jiggers. 

 The fishermen have been informed of the destructive nature of many 

 of their appliances, and rules have been drawn up for their guidance. 



Cod appear off the coasts of Newfoundland in April, and the fish- 

 ing season lasts until October, when these fish take their departure. 

 It is not known where they go from October until April, but they 

 have reappeared with the utmost regularity for some four hundred 

 years and more. Probably their movements have something to do 

 with the productiveness or scarcity of food. 



There are three distinct branches of the cod fishery, viz, the Bank 

 fishery, the Coast fishery, and the Labrador fishery. The Bank fish- 

 cry is carried on by schooners sailing from the southern ports and 

 bays of Newfoundland, and by schooners sailing from ports in the 

 Ignited States, chiefl}^ from Gloucester, and from France. The Coast 

 fishery is carried on by small schooners and boats, plying from vir- 

 tually every bay, cove, or creek in Newfoundland, the men using both 

 hook and line and also cod traps. The Labrador fishery is carried on 

 by schooners sailing from the bays in the eastern coast of New- 

 foundland. 



All schooners, not coasters, do the actual fishing from dories, using 

 bultows. 



Note. — Bultows are locall}^ called trawls, but they have no resem- 

 blance to what are known as trawls in the North sea; they are more 

 like what is known in England as trots. 



The number of Newfoundland craft and men employed in the 

 different branches is roughly as follows : 



In the Bank fisher}^, 89 schooners or grand bankers, carrying from 

 16 to 20 men each. (There are also about 100 French bankers and a 

 great many United States and Canadian schooners engaged in this 

 branch.) 



In the Coast fishery, 500 schooners or small bankers, carrying 7 

 men each, and about 25,000 boats of various sizes and descriptions, 

 carrying from 1 to 5 men each. 



