Ch. IX. SOUTH AMERICA. 407 



firft, that they may phufe their feveral conveniences, 

 in order to finifh their filhery with the greater dif- 

 patch ; and returning early to Europe, may turn 

 their cargo to a better account. 



When a {hip has taken her flation, flie is imme- 

 diately unrigged ; and at the Ikme time a fit place 

 chofen for fecuring the fifh, as it is prepared : huts 

 are likewife run up for the men who work afliore, 

 fo as to form a kind of village j and at the water's 

 edge is alfo built a large ftage or fcaffold. Elere 

 the number of launches defigned for the fifhery is 

 got ready, and when built are left there till the fol- 

 lowing year ; when he who firll enters the bay, has 

 the privilege of applying them to his own ufe. Every- 

 thing being ready, the whole fhip's company, officers 

 included, without exception of any one, are divided 

 into as many claflcs as there are occupations : fome 

 filh, others cut off the heads, others gut the fifli, 

 \yhich the French call habiller ; whilft others have the 

 care of faking and laying them up. The fifhers fet 

 out very early in their boats, that they may be at their 

 ilation by break of day, and do not return till the 

 evening, unlefs they happen to have caught their 

 boat- load before. This fifhery is all performed with 

 the hook ; and every boat is provided with a fufficient 

 quantity of all kinds of filhing-tackle, to be ready at 

 hand in cafe of any accident, as breaking a line or the 

 like. On their return the fiOi is delivered to thofe who 

 open them •, and that this may be done with the greater 

 difpatch, a boy ftands by to hand them to them and 

 take them away when cured. This work is done in a 

 methodical manner; for he who beheads them does 

 nothing elfe. They are opened with one cut length- 

 wife, their back-bone, and all their entrails are taken 

 out ; and another immediately taken in hand, and 

 the offals thrown into the fea. While fome open, 

 Qthers fait, and others again pile up ; and all this is 

 done with the greatefl: care and regularity. The next . 



P d 4 ^ ' day 31 



