[39J OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 529 



grounds to port in light winds and with perishable cargoes on board. 

 It goes without saying that such a sail is not so easily managed as a 

 working gaff-topsail. But with the large crews carried by fishing ves- 

 sels there could be little trouble experienced in handling a club-topsail 

 as soon as the men became skilled in its management. It is also prob- 

 able that a spinnaker would be found very serviceable on market fish- 

 ing vessels in summer, since such a sail would unquestionably increase 

 the speed when running free in light winds. 



10. NOTES CONCERNING THE NEWFOUNDLAND COD-FISHERY, ETC. * 



The notes here presented, though they were gathered in a more or 

 less random manner, as circumstances permitted, may, perhaps, prove 

 interesting to the extent that they throw some light on the craft engaged 

 in the cod-fishery, and the methods in vogue at the places visited by 

 the Grampus. They are, to a large extent, supplementary to the obser- 

 vations concerning the cod, etc., in a precediug paragraph. 



(q) Vessels and boats. 



(1) Schooners. — Practically all the vessels employed in the cod-fishery 

 of Newfoundland are schooner-rigged. Many of the old-style "jacks" 

 and u gallopers " or " western boats " are still seen fishing near the land, 

 and these sometimes go to the Labrador coast for a tare of cocf. We 

 met one at Canada Bay of only about 15 tons, that was on her way to 

 Labrador. The bank fleet is composed of a different class of vessels, 

 some of which have been purchased from the United States and Nova 

 Scotia, while others have been built in Newfoundland. 



The jack and galloper differ chiefly in size. The jack varies from 

 5 to 15 tons ; is schooner-rigged, carrying three sails as a rule, and 

 occasionally having an additional flying stay-sail that sets from the 

 mast-heads, there being no top-mast. It is a full-bowed, clumsy-looking 

 keel craft, with long rounded floor, short run, and heavy, square stern 

 without any overhang, the rudder being outside and operated by a tiller. 

 There is no billet-head or gammon-knee; the construction is rough and 

 the hull is often covered with coal-tar instead of paint. The largest 

 jacks are usually decked, with a little trunk-cabin aft, but the smaller 

 ones have a raised half-deck forward, under which is a diminutive 

 cuddy, dark and dingy, — a veritable " black-hole," — aft of which are 

 standing-rooms or "pits" where the fishermen stand to fish. The 

 middle space is usually decked or loosely covered, and this is the fish- 

 room, aft and forward of which the "pits" are located. 



The masts are often not supported except by the jib-stay. Even the 

 larger galloper seldom has more than a single shroud on a side to each 

 mast, and that is usually slack, the fishermen being prejudiced against 

 having the standing rigging taut. The masts generally rake a good 

 deal, particularly the mainmast, which, not being supported by a stay, 

 H. Mis. 133 34 



