4-06 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



fifhery, he carries a flag at his main-top-maft head. 

 This diftindtion and the advantage of chufing the 

 flation for fifhing, are iiich powerful incentives to 

 expedition, that tho' the harbours are generally fro- 

 zen in the months of March and April, fome fhips 

 arrive thdre during thefe months, and fecure to 

 themfelves the beft ilations, and build huts before- 

 hand, by fending fome of their crew in their long- 

 boats, when the fhip is at the diftance of fifty 

 leagues or more from the coaft ; tho' it muft be ac- 

 knowledged, that this ardor is often attended with 

 fatal confequences ; the boat during the darknefs of" 

 the nights running on the large iflands of ice com- 

 mon on the coaft ; and fometimes founder in 

 ilorms, which are here very fudden and violent. 

 But thefe dangers are all overlooked by an attach- 

 ment to gain and frivolous ambition. The fuccefs 

 or failure of this fifhery depend indeed in a great 

 meafure on the ftation of the Ihip, and the conve- 

 niences for curing the fifh. Befides as the wages paid 

 by the owners to the mailer, petty officers and men, 

 is always one third part of the found fifli brought to 

 Europe, the fhorter the time, the greater is the ad- 

 vantage to each man on board. 



Though all the coafts of Newfoundland may be 

 faid to abound in cod, yet in fome parts it is found 

 in greater num.bers than in others, and fome there are 

 which produce few or none. This proceeds from the 

 quality of the bottom \ for thofe parts where the bot- 

 tom is fandy are fuller of fifli than where it is rocky ; 

 but if the bottom be muddy, fifh are very fcarce : 

 likewife in a great depth of water the fifh are ndt 

 caught in that plenty as when it does not exceed thirty 

 or forty fathom. For though cod be found at a greater 

 or lefs depth, yet this feems to be that which the 

 cod moft delight in. 



Such are the motives for w^hich the mailers of 

 vefTcls in this trade are fo eager to be among the 



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