482 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [46] 



The lines are baited and all ready to set before the vessel reaches 

 the fishing ground. As soon as she arrives at the desired position the 

 dories (with the lines and other necessary gear in them) are hoisted 

 out, the vessel stands along, dropping the boats about 100 to 200 fathoms 

 apart. Immediately on leaving the schooner the men proceed to set 

 the gear, usually running the lines to leeward, unless the direction of 

 the current makes it necessary to set across the wind. 



As soon as the trawls are out the vessel runs down and shoots to, to 

 deaden her way, alongside of each boat, which comes on board and is 

 hoisted on deck or left to tow astern, as circumstances seem to dictate. 

 As soon as all the dories are picked up the schooner beats back to the 

 weather-buoys, near which she continues to jog back and forth on op- 

 posite tacks, with head-sails to windward, until the time arrives to haul 

 the lines. She then stands along close to windward of the buoys, and 

 a dory is let go at each. As soon as this is done she tacks and jogs 

 again with head-sails to windward. 



The men promptly begin hauling. As soon as the buoy line and first 

 anchor are in, they hang the fish-bag over the boat's side, and then be- 

 gin to haul in on the trawl-line. The fish are quickly and carefully un- 

 hooked and put into the bag, where they are kept until the lines are 

 all in. An oar is then held up by the men on the dory as a signal to 

 the officers who are closely watching the boats from the vessel. The 

 latter then steers for the boat, and goiug a little to leeward shoots to 

 close alongside so that a line can easily be thrown. A stout strap is 

 put around the mouth of the fish -bag, which is quickly hoisted on board 

 and its contents emptied into the well. 



After all the dories have been picked up in this manner the vessel 

 steers for the harbor unless the lines are to be set to remain out over 

 night. When this is done a "second set" of lines are baited and 

 made ready beforehand, and as soon as the hauling is completed these 

 are ruu out in the manuer already described. Care is observed to note 

 the bearings of headlands, or the u marks" by which the location of the 

 Hues can be definitely determined when the vessel again goes for them, 

 which may not be for several days, because of stormy weather. 



c. Removing fish from the well. 



Sometimes the fish are taken from the well on the same day they are 

 caught, but generally this can not conveniently be done, either because 

 the vessel does not return to the hatching station until she has fished 

 several days, or it is most expedient to wait until a storm (which occurs 

 frequently enough in winter) keeps her in port. 



The fish are taken from the well with long-handled dip-nets. The 

 peculiar shape of the well makes it possible to reach any part of it with- 

 out difficulty. But after the majority of the fish are dipped out those 

 remaining grow very shy and hard to catch. 



As they are taken out each fish is examined to ascertain if milt or 



