284 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
the process of calling up a flock of fowls by scattering corn over a large piece of ground. The 
oily bait is thrown over the side of the vessel, and as the latter drifts along and the bait spreads 
the fish are attracted by the floating particles most remote from the vessel, and swim up toward 
the source of supply. 
The use of toll-bait originated with the shore fishermen, who crushed the oily menhaden under 
foot with their heavy fishing boots, washing the pulpy mass of flesh and the oil with buckets of 
water out through the scuppers of: the vessel. Another statement, and perhaps the correct one, 
is that at first the fishermen made toll-bait by boiling a codfish or haddock until it was nearly 
cooked, when it was taken by the tail and beaten over the sides of the boat or vessel, causing the 
fibers of the fish to separate in small pieces, which, because of their whiteness, made a very 
attractive bait. This practice was still in vogue among the boat-fishermen of Maine as late as 1849 
and 1850. 
The process of throwing toll-bait, of late in practice, may now be described. Several buckets 
of the ground bait are put into the boxes, the positions of which have already been described, and 
to it several buckets of water are added, the mass being thus reduced to a proper consistency by 
stirring it up with the bait-heavers, which are scoop-shaped contrivances made of tin on the ends 
of wooden handles 2 or 3 feet in length. The vessel is “hove to” under mainsail and foresail, or 
sometimes under mainsail, making a square drift to leeward. One man—generally the skipper— 
stands forward of the main rigging with the bait-heaver and throws out the bait, something in the 
manuer of a man sowing seed broadcast, by a sweeping motion of his right arm, scattering it over 
a space of 15 or 20 feet along the side of the vessel. The oily particles slowly sink and spread out 
under the influence of the whirling eddies caused by the receding vessel. As the vessel drifts 
away and one scattering of bait is on the point of disappearing from sight, another lot is thrown, 
aud so a succession of waves of bait is left in the wake of the vessel. In the mean time the man 
who is throwing the bait puts out two lines and thus ascertains whether the mackerel have been 
attracted’to the sides. As soon as the fish begin to bite, the man sings out, “Here they are!” or 
“Here they gnaw!” and the crew rush to their places and begin fishing. 
When the fish appear, they are sometimes in small numbers and bite daintily, but often they 
come in immense schools and bite as fast as the hooks touch the water.* 
On these occasions the deck of the vessel presents a scene of great activity and excitement. 
Let us try to imagine a scene in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. We are on the deck of a clipper 
schooner from Gloucester, standing along with the four lower sails and the main gaff.topsail set, 
a fresh breeze blowing from the southwest; the sky is overcast, and the sea comparatively smooth; 
within the plane of vision are the white sails of some 250 schooners, most of which are hove to, a 
few tearing along under press of sail seeking new positions; here and there among the fleet is a 
vessel with flag set at her main peak or at her main topmast head; this is to indicate that she has 
* “Sigging mackerel.” —“‘Jigging mackerel” is a method peculiar to mackerel catchers that superseded the old 
way, called ‘‘trailing,” or taking them while the vessel was under headway. The manner of jigging is peculiarly 
interesting to new bebolders. The vessel is kept comparatively motionless; a large quantity of poor mackerel, chopped 
into mince-meat, is thrown upon the water, which brings them to the surface. So much of this has been done that 
it has, in a great measure, destroyed their appetites, and sharp-pointed hooks of a sufficient length to reach the fish 
have been resorted to. 
A line of the color of the water, called the jig-line, attached to a lead of a finger’s length, say one-half inch in 
diameter, diminished at the end towards the hook, which is solid in the lead called a ‘‘jig-lead.” Bait of such as is 
thrown overboard is put on the hook and thrown also among the ‘floating bait,” or more properly the floating fish. 
Thus prepared, the fisherman has little else to do but to draw in the line and snap off the fish in a tub, prepared for 
that purpose, a little faster than can be easily imagined by the land fisherman. From 50 to 80 barrels have often been 
taken on a good ‘‘fishing day” in this way by a crew of six or eight hands; oftentimes several boys comprise a pr rtion 
of the company. (Barnstable Patriot, November 15, 1836.) 
