the same number of men. However, even in these conditions, the lengths of 

 lines set from the two sides of the vessels remained unequal for a period of 

 15 years, the starboard long-boat setting a total of 40 lengths, while only 30 

 pieces were allotted to the port long-boat. 



This routine was not for nothing. It was a consequence of a very partic- 

 ular regime of winds and currents on the Newfoundland Banks. In effect, it 

 generally happens that the wind, which is southwest at the first hour, changes 

 to west during the following hours in a manner such that, the vessel being held 

 by the current, the half circle of the port horizon falls in the lee while the half 

 circle on the starboard, on the contrary, is into the wind. As a result, the 

 return of the port long-boat with its load of fish is longer and more difficult 

 than that of the starboard long-boat, which justifies the unequal division of the 

 lines. However, in order to obtain an equal distribution of work during the 

 season, each Sunday the crews of the long-boats were exchanged from one side 

 to the other, so that the men worked alternately eight days on the port and 

 eight days on the starboard. 



This alternation had besides another motive, for if the port fishing was 

 more tiring than the starboard, the latter has always been considered more 

 dangerous because all fishermen on the banks know from experience that, by 

 a phenomenon resulting, without doubt, from the position of the vessel be- 

 tween wind and current, at the end of the day at the time of hauling the lines, 

 the fog-horn and cannon are heard less well to the starboard, the windward 

 side, than to the port, the leeward side. As a result, at the same distance 

 from the vessel, the boats operating to the starboard risk much more, incase 

 of a sudden fog, of not hearing the signal which is their only guide to the ship, 

 and missing it often means death for the crews on the immensity of the banks. 

 Also, the crew of a boat finding itself in such a situation on the starboard 

 guides itself by the wind or the waves and, sometimes, by a small compass 

 which regulations require on all long-boats or dories, to a direction a little 

 closer toward the vessel in a manner, if they do not chance to see it, to pass 

 to the port, after which their chances of hearing the fog-horn or gun are very 

 much improved. 



Later, the use of long-boats in the fishery underwent some modifications. 

 After 1835, each vessel shipped three long-boats, one a replacement. At a- 

 bout the same time the lengths of lines fished to starboard and port became 

 equal, each composed of 75 pieces of 60 fathoms. The more difficult fishing 

 on the port side was compensated for by weekly alternation of the crews. In 

 1871, the trawls attained their maximum length of 90 pieces of 60-fathom 



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