The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-04
French Mode OF Fishing.

General Dearborn, Of fRoxbury, has furnished the
Boston Courier with-an account of the "Bultow"
mode Of fishing for cod, which introduced by
the French into Newfoundland, and is now exten.
sivey practsed Lakes Ontario, Eric, Huron,
and Superior for taking the salmon. trout and other
large fish which abound in those waters. The
count is taken from report on the Sea and River
Fisheries Of New Brunswick, within the Gulf Of
ST. Lawrence and Bay of Chaleur, by NJ II. Per
Icy, csq., of st. John, n. B. and will doubtless be
read with interest by our own fishermen:
"The buto,o s a long line, with hooks fastened
along its whole length, at regular distances, by
shorter and smaller cords called snOods, which arc
six feet lorg and placed on the long line twelve
feet apart, 10 prevent the hooks becoming cntan-
glcd Near the hooks these snOods formed Of
separate threads loosely fastened together TO guard
against the teeth Of the fish. Buoys, buoy ropes,
aud anchors, or grapnels, are liked TO each end of
the line; and the lines always laid, or, as II IL
termed, shot the tide; for If the tide runs
upon the ends of the line the hooks will become en-
tangled. These set lincs' have been some time in
use on the coast Of Cornwall, in England, and the
mode is there called Butler fishing. This mode
Of fishing is much practiscd on the west coast Of
Ireland, where it Is called Splliord' or 'spillct'
fishing.
''ln a petition from the inhabitants Of Bryant's
Cove in Newfoundland, 20 the legislature in iSI6,
il is stated that the 'Butow' mode Of fishing had
been introduced in that vicinity the previous year,
at first by a single line fleet, IL Is termed,
Of hundred hooks; and this proved successful
that. before the end Of the season, seventy FIVE
fleets were used, some of them three hundred
fathoms long. The petitioners represent that the
set line or 'Bultow,' is the best mode of fishing
introduced into those waters, rs being lees
pcnsivo in outfit and keeping boats in repair; that
a 'sct-lne' will last three years, and with some
even longer; that the total expense Of fitting out,
with gross of hooks, is only fifty shillings; and
that il Is not moved during the season, except for
ovcrhaung and batting the hooks, until the fish
move out into deep water in the autumn.
'1t was a common thing during the season for one
and a half quintals Of fish TO be taken off gross OF
hooks in the morning. The lines are overhsuled
and fresh bats placed on the hooks every morning
and evening. The petitioners then state that like
all new inventions, the sot.line,' or 'Butow, ha,
TO struggle against many hindrauces from gno-
rance aud bgoted attachment to the old method
yet your petitioners have endcavored 10 show
the Butow has proved itself what may be fully
Z termed THE PooR MASS FRIEND
"For the deep sca fishery, the Bultow is Of great
length The French fishing vessels chiefly anchor
fsthoms water veer out 100 fathons Of cable, and
prepare 10 catch Cod, with two lines, each 5000
iathoms in length, (or nearly seven miles together
The hooks being beited, the lines neatly coiled
in half bushe baskets, clear for running out, The
baskets placed in two strong built lug sail
boats, and at three O'Clock in the afternoon, both
make sail together, Mt right angles from the vessel,
on opposite sidesj when the lines are run out
straight, they sunk TO within hive iect ot tue
! bottom
! "At day break next morning the boats proceed TO
trip the snkers ut the exrenties of the lines, and
while the crew OF each boat are hauling IN line and
unlocking feb, the men on board heavein the other
ends of the lines, with y winch. In this way four
/ hundred of the large Bank Cod are commonly ta-
| ken in n nj ght. The French vessels engaged in the
6sbcry are from 90 to 300 tons burthen. They ar.
rive on the Grand Bank from France early in June,
and on an average complete their osrgoe' In thrss