[45] THE SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 481 



pollock, which frequeut Massachusetts Bay in autumn (at which season 

 they are gravid), are also caught with hand-lines specially prepared for 

 that purpose. 



The vessel is first anchored so that she will " tail " on to a shallow 

 rocky patch (if fishing off Cape Ann), when sufficient cable has been 

 payed out. It requires skillful handling to auchor so that she will 

 " swing" exactly over a shoal, which is usually of such small dimensious 

 that its location has to be determined by leading marks on the land. 



The lines are immediately put out, part of the crew usually fishing 

 from each side of the vessel. As fast as fish are hauled in they are 

 carefully unhooked and dropped into the well, where they remain until 

 the vessel returns to the hatching station. Sometimes the fish are 

 kept in the well several days. If any of the fish die they are imme- 

 diately removed, so that they will not decompose and contaminate the 

 water in the well. 



It is frequently found advantageous in Massachusetts Bay to send 

 part of the crew out in dories to fish at a little distance from the vessel. 

 In such cases the men take with them net bags of coarse twine (else- 

 where referred to), which are hung to the outside of each boat to receive 

 the fish. If the wind is blowing fresh, as is commonly the case, each 

 dory has a line leading to the vessel, by which it can be hauled along- 

 side, since it is not practicable to row a boat against a stiff breeze and 

 tow the net-bag containing the fish. As soon as a dory reaches the 

 schooner the bag is hoisted on board and its contents are dumped into 

 the well. 



On the grounds off Nantucket and No Man's Land all the men fish 

 from the vessel's deck for cod, as a rule. Occasionally it is found desir- 

 able to " fish at a drift," the vessel being hove to under mainsail and fore- 

 sail, and all hands fishing from the weather side. But this is seldom 

 done. 



When pollock fishing, it is generally necessary to anchor with the 

 " pollock fleet," which gathers in a cluster on a shoal where fish abound, 

 the vessels lying close together, swinging with the wind, and usually 

 with mainsails set. The crew fish from the deck, and sometimes pollock 

 are so numerous and so eager to bite that they come near the surface 

 and may be rapidly caught. 



They are quickly unhooked and put into the well. But it is specially 

 difficult to keep this species alive, owiug to the fact that its swim blad- 

 der (sound) and the membraneous lining of its gill covers, etc., become 

 easily inflated with air, which prevents it from keeping under water. It 

 will not live well either if crimped. 



b. Trawl-line fishing. 



The vessel is kept uuder sail when trawling, and generally " flying- 

 sets "are made, though occasionally it is found most advantageous to 

 set the trawls one day and haul them the next. 

 H. Mis. 133 31 



