[53] OPERATIONS OF SCHOONER GRAMPUS. 543 



made, however, that in localities where traps have been used for two or 

 three years the results obtained are far below what they were when this 

 form of apparatus was first set. Mr. James Vinecomb, of St. John's, 

 told me that he believed no traps would be used in six or seven years. 



The Newfoundland cod-trap (see plate XII) is very simple in its con- 

 struction. The trap or "crib'* is box-shaped, nearly square in plan, of 

 a depth suitable to the locality, and set floating, with corks along the 

 upper edge, buoys at the angles, and a buoy at the middle of the 

 " back," or side farthest from the shore, to support the top of the trap 

 where the mooring lines are fastened. The trap is held in place by an 

 auchor, or " killick," attached to each corner and the center of the back 

 by lines that vary in length according to the depth of water. The leader 

 extends from the mouth of the trap to the shore, its length being gov- 

 erned entirely by local conditions. 



The diameter of an average cod-trap varies from 40 to 50 feet, and 

 the width of the entrance or 6i mouth " qu each side of the leader is 5 

 feet. 



(s) Methods of Fishing. 



(14) General Observations. — In the bank cod-fisheries the American 

 dory is used and the same methods are employed as are in favor among 

 the New England fishermen. It is chiefly in the shore fishing that these 

 methods are in any manner peculiar to Newfoundland, and these vary 

 considerably in different parts of the island. It will be practicable here 

 to consider only those most commonly employed. 



(15) Trawl-line fishing. — On some parts of the island trawl-lines are 

 set at the surface for cod when capelin are on the coast, the lines so set 

 being called " floating bultows"or " boulters." The lines are set so 

 that the hooks attached to them will be about 7 or 8 feet from the sur- 

 face of the water. A " mooring," grapnel or anchor, is put out with a 

 buoy-line attached. The end of the ground-line of the bultow is then 

 bent around the buoy-line in such a way that it will easily slide up and 

 down upon the latter. A short piece of line 6 or 8 feet long is made 

 fast to the buoy and its other end is* bent to the ground-line so that the 

 latter shall not go below a certain depth. The ground-line with the 

 hooks attached is then payed out and its last end is made fast to a 

 mooring in the same manner as the first. If necessary, additional floats 

 or buoys are attached to the lines at suitable intervals. This method 

 of fishing is adopted because the cod generally school " up in the water " 

 when they are chasing capelin. As soon as capelin leave the coast the 

 cod no longer rise so near the surface and the trawl-lines must be set 

 near the bottom. 



(16) Hand-line fishing. — In hand-line fishing at the bottom, the boats 

 are usually anchored and the lines are put out on each side. The crew 

 varies from one to three, or more. At St. John's two men and a boy 

 usually go in one of the "pinkie" boats. When there are three in a 



