THE BANK. TRAWL-LINE COD FISHERY. 161 
are alternately fastened by snoods of 3 feet long, 6 feet apart, and the whole neatly coiled in half- 
bushel baskets clear for running out. Half the number of baskets are then placed in a large, strong- 
built lug-sail boat on each side, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon; both make sail together at right 
angles from the vessel, and when the lines are all run out straight, sink them to within 5 feet of the 
bottom. 
[This is probably a mistake of the writer, since the ground-lines of the trawls were undoubtedly, 
as now, sunk to the bottom. ] 
“The crew having rested all night, they proceed again the next morning at daybreak to trip 
the sinker, and while hauling in lines, unhooking fish, &c., the men left on board heave in the other 
end with a winch. When in that manner 400 codfish are caught in a night, some are then employed 
in line-clearing, fish-beheading, splitting, salting, and stowing them away in layers across each other 
below; livers and refuse boiled to oil put in large casks on deck. Three months seems to be the 
average time employed, arriving early in June and departing again in October. 
“ As British fishermen are said to be continually holding lines in a perpendicular position over 
the side in all sorts of weather, for the same purpose, owners of vessels, we conceive, should give 
the above method some consideration.” 
8 REPORT ON A COD-TRAWLING TRIP TO GRAND BANK IN 1879. 
By HENRY L. OSBORN. 
a ITINERARY OF THE CRUISE. 
A BRIEF ITINERARY OF THE SUMMER TRIP.—We ran out of Gloucester harbor with a light 
northerly breeze at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, July 12, 1879. As we rounded Eastern Point 
the wind died out and we lay in a flat calm until late at night. The following day, Sunday, was 
clear and pleasant. Land had sunken out of sight and we were moving very slowly east half 
south. Had it not been the Sabbath the men would have begun at once to rig their trawls, but, 
partly from respect to the day and partly using it as an excuse for not working, they did no 
manner of work. Early on Monday morning they all turned out, and after breakfast began work — 
on their gear, continuing it steadily all day and all the day following. By Wednesday they had, 
for the most part, finished this work. 
On Tuesday night we saw a light on shore and decided that it was Sambro Light, off Halifax. 
Ou Thursday morning, when I came on deck at half:past four, we had rounded Cape Canso and 
were standing toward Arichat. It was blowing strong and the air was full of mist, moreover it 
was very cold although it was the middle of summer, and I found heavy clothing and an “ oil-skin” 
suit very comfortable. ‘lhe treeless and barren hills seemed very inhospitable, and the few houses 
nestled under them here and there did not seem very cheerful to one who had but just come from 
the warm weather of New Jersey. A few miles off Arichat we put over a dory, and three or four 
men jumped into her and pulled ashore to visit their homes in the vicinity, fora day or two. With 
the rest of the crew we stood off for Guysborough, and, at about nine in the morning, dropped 
auchor off the village. 
We staid at Guysborough until the 20th, thus giving the remainder of the crew, except two 
Massachusetts fellows, a chance to visit their homes. On that evening we dropped anchor off 
Arichat. In the morning of the next day we picked up the rest of the crew, took ice for our bait, 
and, at about 2 or 3 o’clock p. m., made sail for Cape Broyle, Newfoundland. The wind was fair 
and strong and we flew over the water at the rate of 10 or 11 knots per hour. When I went 
below for the night the land was no longer in sight and we were tearing through the water. All 
day Tuesday we had the same strong and fair breeze and sailing became really enjoyable. On 
SEO yv——11 > 
