504 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
means ot which it is slowly moved about among the fish until it is nearly full, when the lower rim 
is brought over the gunwale of the boat; it is then “righted up” and two or three men begin pull- 
*ing on the upper part of the net, until the fish are brought out of the water and begin sliding into 
the boat. The process is called “ rollin’ ’em in.” When fish are plenty two men can easily roll 20 
hogsheads, or 100 barrels, in an hour. Ifthe catch is large several boats are brought alongside 
and quickly loaded by their respective crews, but when few herring are secured all are taken into 
one boat and the others return to the shore empty. 
The boats used for this purpose vary both in size and number, from two to five belonging to 
each weir. These are from 18 to 25 feet long, 7 to 10 feet broad, and are valued at from $75 to 
$300. The more expensive ones are used for general purposes at other times, and are therefore 
much better than would be necessary for ordinary fishing purposes unless the weir happens to be 
in a position where it is exposed to the sea. The average boat is valued at about $150. 
QUANTITY OF HERRING TAKEN IN WEIRS.—The catch is very irregular and uncertain. The 
fish are not caught every day, and sometimes an entire month, or even more, may pass during 
which not a herring may be taken. Again, when the “darks are on” and “the tides serve” they 
may sometimes be caught in immense quantities for several consecutive nights. 
The following tabulated statement, kindly furnished by Mr. Benjamin Green, of Eastport, 
shows the catch of his weir, located at Flye’s Island, during the seasons of 1878 and 1879: 
SEASON OF 1878. 
Number of 
Month. we fish Brine 
e ‘were taken. 
Hogsheads. 
JUNC .......22022-2 22 2 8 
DOLY saxseresessancewn 10 40 
Angust............6-- 20 90 
September ............ 10 104 
Ootober...........--.- 10 123 
November .........--. 8 36 
December .........--- vi 144 
January ..-.......---- 2 32 
Total ............ 69 572 
SEASON OF 1879. 
i 
MAY sascennnsendcenens 7 7 
JUNC....2- 222-2 cee eee 5 7 
Daly sanvnnacesan ce cans 2 2 
August ............... 10 47 
September ............ 11 95 
October...........---. 4 7 
November .......-.-.. 6 128 
Total .....:...... 45 303 
We learn that enormous quantities have been taken at different times. Four hundred hogs- 
heads, equal to 2,000 barrels, were secured at one tide by one of the weirs ou Grand Manan, and 
frequent catches of 200 to 250 hogsheads in a day are reported to have been made at Treat’s Island 
weir, near Eastport, in former years. During our stay at Eastport, a weir at Flye’s Island is said 
to have taken 150 hogsheads at a single tide. The largest quantity taken by any weir in 1880 was 
secured by Mr. McLain from his weir, located at L’Etete Passage. Prior to the middle of Sep- 
tember, he had realized over $5,000 on fish sold fresh, while large numbers of small fish had been 
