Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/810

794 COD may be distinguished as the western banks, the westernmost being known specifically as the Western bank. The Miquelon islands and St. Pierre, off the S. coast of Newfoundland, belonging to France, are the rendezvous of the vessels of that nation. Of the United States, Massachusetts is the most extensively enga- ged in the fishery, the principal ports being those on Cape Cod, with Plymouth, Kingston, Marblehead, Beverly, and Gloucester. Maine comes next by a long interval, the principal places engaged being Portland, Wiscasset, Boothbay, Waldoborough, Belfast, Castine (em- ploying more vessels than any other town in the state), and the ports about Frenchman's bay. Gloucester is the great fishing port of the country. A few vessels from this town make winter trips, from three to five weeks in length, to the Western k-mk, the number in- creasing after the beginning of February. In this month also fishing commences on Georges bank (S. E. of Massachusetts), the trips avera- ging three or four weeks. The Georges fleet is largest in March, begins to decrease in April, and almost disappears in June. As the weather grows milder and the Georges fleet diminishes, the Gloucester vessels commence their trips to the fishing grounds off Cape Sable and Cape North, in the gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the Western and Grand banks. The trips to the Grand bank rarely exceed 12 weeks in length, those to the western banks 9 weeks. The Cape Cod vessels do not engage in winter fish- ing. About five sixths of them sail for the banks during the first half of April, and make two trips, or "fares," arriving on their first fare early in June, sailing again the last of that month, and arriving on their second fare the latter part of August or first of Septem- ber. The remaining sixth sail about the middle of May, and make but one fare, arriving in August or September. Provincetown vessels, however, all make one long trip to the Grand bank, sailing in April, and sometimes prolong- ing their stay until October. Marblehead and Beverly vessels that make two fares arrive on their first fare in July or August, and on their last in November. The vessels employed are schooners of from 45 to 100 tons, averaging 60 or 70. The number of the crew varies from 9 to 14, sometimes exceeding the latter num- ber. The bank fishermen all use dories, or flat-bottomed boats, which are sent out, usual- ly twice a day, a short distance from the ves- sel, which lies at anchor on the fishing ground. The larger proportion (perhaps three fourths) of the Massachusetts vessels use trawls, which are set and hauled periodically. The trawl consists of a lorg line anchored and buoyed at each end, with hooks, generally several hundred in number, adjusted at intervals. The trawlers use dories about 15 ft. in length, usually carrying one for every two men. The fishermen that use hand lines carry a dory 12 ft. long for each man except the cook, and in the largest vessels the "skipper," as the captain is called. Owing to the strong tide on Georges bank, the fishermen do not use dories there, but fish directly from the vessel. The Maine vessels carry larger crews than those from Massachusetts, and use hand lines. The trawlers use fresh bait, herring, mackerel, or squid ; the hand-liners use salted clams for the first of the season, but afterward usually obtain squid. The fish when brought aboard the vessel are dressed and salted in the hold. Upon arrival home they are taken out, washed, and dried on flakes, or platforms of wickerwork, on the shore. The process of dressing them is reduced to system, and is per- formed with great rapidity. The throater, usually a boy, cuts the throat and rips them open ; the header removes the entrails and the head ; the splitter splits the fish, removing a portion of the backbone ; while the salter piles them in tiers and sprinkles them with salt. There are two principal methods of employing the crew. Under one system, a portion of them, called sharesmen, take the risk of the voyage and hire the rest of the men. These shares number from one to five, three or four being the usual number. There may be whole shares or parts of shares, the latter occurring when a portion of the compensation is at the risk of the voyage and the rest is received in wages. The hired men receive from $150 to $250 for one fare, and from $200 to $300 for two fares. The cook is usually paid from $50 to $60 a month. In settling the voyage, as it is termed, the skipper takes a small proportion of the gross stock, generally 8 per cent. The "great general supplies," consisting of salt, bait, dories, fishing tackle, &c., are then deducted; the owners of the* ves- sel next draw one fourth ; one eighth of what remains is paid for curing the fish ; the pro- visions are then paid for ; and finally the wages of the hired men are deducted. Whatever is still left is divided among the sharesmen, the skipper drawing a share in addition to his per- centage. With fair success, the sharesmen will draw about 45 per cent, of the gross proceeds, though the proportion varies of course accord- ding to circumstances, and they sometimes fail to pay their expenses. This system is in use on Cape Cod, and in Plymouth, Marblehead, and Beverly. By the other method the owners equip the vessel, and buy the fish green upon her arrival, at the market price for the time being. The crew receive half the proceeds, paying only half of the bait bill and of the cook's wages, having left about 45 per cent, net, which in vessels that use trawls is gener- ally divided equally, but in the case of those that use hand lines is commonly shared among the crew according to their respective catch, or on the " own hook lay." This system is in vogue in Gloucester. The Maine fishermen use the same method, but do not sell their fish un- til cured. The Nova Scotia vessels mostly use trawls. The sharesmen, six or eight in num- ber, hire the boys and ordinary fishermen, and