PROBLEMS IN THE FISH BUSINESS 11 



p J Another source of annoyance and loss to the fishermen 



of Dog-fish 's the prevalence of the dog-fish, which appears at 



certain periods of the year in large schools and, while 

 this pest lasts — at times from two to six weeks, the length of time 

 varying in different localities — ^the fishermen will not set their trawls 

 for cod, haddock, or other food fishes, because the dog-fish destroys 

 any other species on the trawls and, when taken, also damages the 

 trawls to such an extent that they become practically a total loss. 



The establishment in recent years of reduction plants at principal 

 points has made it possible for fishermen to use special trawls for 

 taking dog-fish, which are sold to the reduction plants and by them 

 converted into fertilizer. This has helped, to a large extent, to remove 

 one of the greatest terrors of the deep sea fishermen, but the trouble 

 still exists and at times is the cause of heavy losses to th€ fishermen, 

 through the loss of their gear. 



Prevalence of dog-fish also affects fishing from shore-boats, which, 

 as the term implies, operate in bays and inlets near the home port. 

 Dog-fish always run in large schools and they not only chase all other 

 kinds of edible fish, but destroy nets, trawls and other gear used by 

 fishermen when plying their hazardous trade. 



_ Frequent storms and gales prevailing along the coast 



from Storms ^^^ very often a source of loss, since the fishing fleet 

 is compelled to remain in port until these storms sub- 

 side, because it is not only dangerous, but practically impossible, to do 

 any dory fishing while they last. This refers to the method of fishing 

 with vessels, carrying from 6 to 12 dories, each dory manned by two 

 fishermen, who bait and set the trawls from these frail craft, lifting 

 the lines to remove the fish and rebaiting at intervals of from three to 

 six hours, according to the locality and the prevalence of fish on the 

 banks where they operate. 



After lifting the trawls, the dories return to the vessel with their 

 catch, which is then gutted to remove the entrails and packed in ice 

 or salt, which will keep it in good condition until the vessel returns 

 to port. 



Introduction With the introduction of steam trawlers, using the 

 Trawiws °^^^^ trawl, a bag-like contrivance made of strong 



rope and weighted to keep it near the bottom, many 

 of the above disadvantages have been avoided. The otter trawl is 

 dragged at a considerable distance behind the vessel, which steams at 

 slow speed and is stopped from time to time in order to lift the trawl 



