53 
of fish caught by one man in the Canaries is equal to that 
caught by twenty-six in Newfoundland. These advances 
furnish just ground for argument into which I do not 
intend to enter here. 
The class of vessel employed is represented by the fore- 
and-aft schooner of varying size, from 20 to 50 tons, 
with a crew each of from 18 to 40 men and boys. In the 
years: 1879 and 1880, the craft employed in this trade 
numbered 31 vessels, with a total of 913 tons, of which 16. 
belonged to the island of Grand Canary, and 15 to the 
island of Lanzarote. 
Fishing-boats work all the year; but the season for the 
African coasts is given as from April to September, distinct, 
it would seem, from the island season mentioned as between 
September and March. 
Fish are caught by hook, but from Grand Canary nets 
are also used. A system prevails of trailing a number of 
hooks attached to lines run out at right angles to the 
vessel, representing a means of capture that shows at times 
a good return. 
The curing is done by salting, which is effected on board 
the schooners; but the imperfect process has been ad- 
vanced as a reason why there has not been a greater 
development of the industry, and more appreciation of the 
cured fish. Another consequent industry has sprung up, 
viz., schooner-building in the island of Grand Canary. 
The following is a list extracted from Consul Dundas’ 
report, in 1877, on these islands, of the principal fish, 
ranging in weight from 15 lbs. to 65 Ibs. each, included in 
what I may call the Grand Canary and Lanzarote fish 
industry :— 
“Cherna or Cherne (Perca cernua), similar to cod, and 
considered inferior to Newfoundland cod. 
Sama (Serranus acutirostris), very common, large excel- 
