The sun., 1873-08-30
n NEW FISHING ENTERPRISE.
Capt McQuinn's Cruise for Iceland Uaiibut
-Strinsing sharks Under n ship-The Peo-
pie who Fish in IceIandic Waters.

This season, says the Gloucester TcIc-
P,dph, another new fishing enterprise has been
encouraging. Capt. McQuinn, having followed
the Greenland fishery three seasons determined
tO strike out in new direction this summer
and follow the Trelandic halibut ashery. Thn
coast of Iceland s but little further north than
the Greeuland hshing grounds. and the chances
of success seemed equally probable. Accord
ingly Capt. McQuiun fitted away his schooner
Membrino Chief for this new business, and
sailed from Gloucester, May - going first Ia
Ia Have, whore he made up the compliment Of
his crew. The crew VI the Membrino Chief
comprised quite a little colony of themsely.a
consisting Of Capt. McQunn, Mr. Charles ~
Culbcrg, mate and pilot, steward, cook, and
crew OF sixteen men. Eight dorles were
taken. the design being to pu. sue the plan of
halbut fishery IN vogue on the banks and at
Greenland-with travis.
The vessel arrived at La Have at o'clock on
the morning Of May %. aud sailed on her fishing
voyage at o'clock on the afternoon of the ne xt
day. The 0rst land made after leaving La Havo
was Snefell Jokul, q cape on the southwestern
coast Of iceland. and at noon OF the same day
they made Stalbcrg Hook. The next day the
vessel arrived at Sesehurd, where a landing was
made and supply Of water obtained. ON June
the vessel was worked out to the fishing
grounds. but the weather was unfavorable, and
the first nsh taken were six halbut and few
Goldfish on the 18th of June.
The vessel remained In lcelandic waters about
five weeks, visiting various haTbOrs aud cruising
upon the fishing grounds when the weather
would allow, but taking very few nsh. Among
the points Of the coast visited were Undernord
Allevick, and Patricksaord. fishing villages with
stone aud lava huts matched with turf. but the
vessel did not cruise as Tar east as Rekiavik. the
capital, where the Governor resides. The
weather was exceedingly rough and squally
with snow aud hail, and little opportunity was
afforded for fishing. snow and halstorms con-
tinung almost uninternittingly through tho
early part Of July, Capt. McOunn determined
To abandon the enterprise, and July II the
schooner left tue shore Of Iceland, having failed
To secure "A fare. II was tho masters Intention
70 seek passage through the iceoergs oG Cape
Farewell to the Greenland fishing grounds To
make up Trip, but alter cruising along some
ninety miles " almost unbruken ice without
nome. and arrived safely at Gloucester last week
he Mcmbrtno Chef seems To have reached
Iceland ut the wrong season for "A successful
catch, though II IL doubtful II the experiment IL
ever renewed to determine whether an earlier or
lat er season would have proved more successful.
There are said to be two schools Of nsh which
frequent the coast Of the island, one arriving
along in April and the other In September.
although the fisheries Te pursued To some ex-
other, the time while the Membrno Chief
w"s rr, IN these e water waters was was unusually stormy,
never had experienced such rough weather
there, and could not account for It. France
employs quite feet IN the Icelandlc codnshery,
which makes their headq quarters at Pat.icksnord
and Deernurd Those vessels are of large size
Including fnra-and AFT and fnnsnIl srL-nn.r.'
usually making two trips In season. some OF
the vessels remain all the season, receiving sup
craft sent from France FOR the purpose. They
L-h with hand lines from the vessel while
u MI my, ana 40 not make any account
of halbut. The Goldfish taken are about
the same as our Bank hsh. though possibly
, lightly inferior In quality. The Enslisn
have "A few vessels employed In fishing In
these waters. and the buics, to whom the
Island belongs, de- a large fishing business here.
lhe earliest fishery ia the season Is the shark
Hshvry, which Is followed by the fishing boats
belonging TO the natives of the island, and by
small vessels Of sluup rig which come from Den
mark The nrst cat, h Of sharks X ins ore, in
about thirty fathoms Of water, the boats lying
al anchor the shhrk- being caught with hook
ana hne. As the sharks are caucut their lyers
are taken uut and pat In butts, and the car
casses, viii n are Il no value, are strung ON "A
cnan or line along under the vessel. uutil "A fare
NJ lNers Is obtained, for II dead shark l. allow
eel 10 sink to the bottom thc whole school will
instantly disappear. Aftrr q ftrr II secured the
string ot dead sharks Is all we'd 20 SINK. and tho
mex tlp the vessels must change their nshIug
ht rtAs lurlner ont 10 .rl.