The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-01-17
On the Banks.

A sea captain from one of the Mari
time Provinces, who was formerly com
mander Of one of the largest fishing
schooners that sailed out of Gloucester
was talking with reporter recently il
regard to the fishing on the Grand ant
Georges banks this year.
"More fishing vessels have been ftte(
out in Nova Scotia this year." said he
ethan ever before Many new vessels
are out also from Cape Cod and Glouces
ter. Had it not been for the recent Sc
we're storms, the present season wOul(
have been the most profitable that has
been known for years among the fishing
fleets"
"What vessels have the best reputa-
ton among the fishing fleets 2"
ooh, the American vessels, by far
They are, as a rule, larger, and are al
ways better fitted un than the vessels o
other nations. The capital invested il
| greater and the returns are larger or
American fishing vessels than on any
other. Then they have the best crews
and officers atloat.'
"What is the cost of fishing vesse
and her tittings?"
"The largest fishing schooner that
think Of at present is one that sails out
OF ProvincetoWn. She cost about $50.
| 600, and the cost of fitting her out fol
the season must be about $1,000 more
The men of this vessel are paid wages,
believe, and the captain and mate are on
shares. The schooner came back from
the Banks about three weeks AGO with a
full fare, and the owner will probably
clear $1,000 on his investment of S25,-
600"
"Of what nationality are the officers
and crews Of American vessels, as a
rule ~
"The vessel is almost always com
manded by an American. Sometimes a
French Canadian, like myself, from the
Provinces, IS captain, but never, that
have known, a man of any other nation
ality | had to take out naturalization
papers as an American citizen before
could command an American vessel. of
course. The crews are largely made up
OF Americans, though a large number of
hardy fishermen from Cape Breton, the
Isle Madame and Nova Scotia come
every spring to the States and ship
aboard the American fishing vessels OF
late years there have been large settle
mentS OF Portuguese fishermen on Cape
Cod, and some of them will be found
among the crews Of American fishing yes
sells. But as rule the Portuguese fish
IN small boats in the waters near their
homes
"Afe the fishermen paid wages or do
they ilsh for certain percentage of the
profits of the seasons catch r.
"Generally the crews fish for percen-
tage- on shares, us it is called but in
some of the American vessels the men
are paid fixed wages"
'Do the men fish in boats or in do
ries ~
"Henerally i'll dories That is, they 20
out from the schooner in dolies and set
travis. \ truWl consists of cou-
pie Of buoys connected by Il long
line from which depend fishlnes with
baited hooks. The men 90 out from the
fishing vessels in little sharp pointed do
rles of deep draught that will stand al
most any amount Of sea, and set their
travis IN the morning, and at night re-
turn to the vessel with their days catch.
Frequently, in the thick togs that almost
always hang over the Grand Banks. a
dory gets lost III trying to return to the
schooner, and its occupants float about
III the horrible gloom Of the fog covered
ocean, until they are picked up by some
other vessel or die of thirst or starvation.
They talk OF otmaking law (perhaps thev
E93feaqfs E933Yf eaqqfs S S9t9y 9yaas aasrdr h2}' q sng R hs2 @s
sci that sails out Of an American port to
supply his doiies with food and water for
a certain number of days, every morning
when they leave the schooner. If it were
done a large number of lives would be
saved yearly without doubt
. | know of Il case where two fisher
men, one of whom is now master Of a
fishing vessel sailing ont OF Gloucester
were lost in the fog for four days and tOul
nights without food or water They
pulled TO the westward all the time in
hopes Of reaching land or falling in with
Il vessel. On the evening of the fourth
day one OF the men died, and when Oh
the next day the dory was cast upon the
shores of Newfoundland, near Cape Race
his companion had scarcely strength
enough left to pull the body up beyonG
| the reach of the waves. He tiled all that
| day with his feeble bands to cover the
| form Of his dead companion with sand
| but as it was growing dark he fell sense
less beside the unfinished grave. That
evening a fishing vessel that was short
of water ran in near the coast, the foo
having lifted, and sent boat ashore t.
ill their casks from a spring that raj
down from the cliffs. The man was Sc
cured and with much difficulty brought
to consciousness again. All believe me
a great deal of peril and priyation goes tc
produce a Goldfish ball.