to France. The principal reason for this is that at the beginning of the fish- 

 ing season for the sailing vessels, most of the cod have already spawned and 

 only furnish, consequently, soft roe of no value. On the other hand, when 

 the occasion presents itself, to sailing vessels arriving early on the banks, 

 for the taking of good quality roe, the fishermen undertake, because of the 

 relatively high price, to salt and preserve roe in sacks until the return to 

 France when it is repacked in barrels. This primitive procedure does not 

 compare with methods used on the coast of Norway, where the roe of cod 

 taken before spawning is prepared ashore under the best of conditions, then 

 sorted and repacked in dry salt in one of the great ports of Bergen, Aaslund, 

 or Kristinsund. 



On the other hand, the sailing vessels from Iceland, which commence 

 fishing at the time of spawning, take the greatest care in preserving the roe, 

 and it is the same for the modern trawlers, in particular those from Fecamp 

 where the roe trade has acquired, since the sailing days, a great importance. 



The work follows an invariable rhythm, Sunday as other days. The fish- 

 ing is interrupted only by very bad weather, when the state of the sea prevents 

 the launching of the dories. These are, then, for the fishermen comfortably 

 closed up in their cabins, the "tides of Paradise". By tradition, the after- 

 noon of the 15th of August alone is the object, on the part of most vessels, of 

 a regular work stoppage. 



It happens, at certain exceptional times, that the line trawls have to give 

 way to another method of fishing. This comes about everywhere during the 

 capelin season, when cod, gorged by capelin, maintain themselves in com- 

 pact masses in the upper layers, ignoring any baits offered on the bottom. 



The fishery is then carried out by means of a device consisting of a line 

 to which is attached a lead fish bearing two hook- shaped prongs. The dory 

 proceeding quietly forward, the fisherman lowers the line to the midst of the 

 school of cod giving it a realistic motion by raising and lowering the arm; 

 then he hauls the line sharply to hook the cod in any part of its body. 



This fishery, very fatiguing, sometimes gives a high yield. It is often 

 practiced in Greenland. 



After beginning their fishery on Platier, the captains try their luck, ac- 

 cording to inspiration, or after obtaining the desired yield, on the parts of 



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