Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-11-01
'J|CCERS" FOR COD,
Device to Catch the Fish Without
Any Bait.
IS SNAPPED AT EAGERLY.
Captain Hines Of Gloucester, Mass.
Makes a Discovery Likely to Revo-
iutionize the Codfshina Industry
The Lure Is Easily Made.

tHe LGIS - Aas''y Wisue'
Captain Angus Hines, weather
beaten fisherman, has invented a new
method Of capturing cod without bait
that promises 20 revolutionlze the fish
ing industry nf New England, says a
Gloucester fMJssl dispatch TO the New
York Telegram. All along the coast
from Maine 10 Cape Cod the baitless
method OF taking cod has become
topic Of interest
For nearly score OF years the cost
OF salted clans, squid aud eels and
other cod bait has been an important
factor In reducing the profits Of New
England fishermen.
Captains OF fishing schOoners that
sail from Boston. Cape Ann and Cape
Cod have been Obliged 10 Nil their
vessels holds with bait In barrels be
fore proceeding to the fishinR grounds.
The salted CLANS have to be shipped
from Maine for this purpose. Often
days are spent on the fishing grounds
III capturing sQulu lor Dalt.
Captain Hines, who recently sailed
into Gloucester In his vessel. the An
ME NJ. Parker. with 375,0o pounds OF
cod record load. created sensation
among fishing concerns by catching
fully half of this cargo by means OF
his latest tangled device for lurina the
cod from the depths.
Captain Hines when he started for
Sable island in May carried l40 bar.
rels Of salted clans for bait. Before
returning he threw fifty barrels over.
board and gave away twenty barrels
to other fishermen.
This new device for taking tSh has
been named the jigger" Ii consists
of a nodded fish shaped piece of shiny
lead about eight inches long. from the
head of which projects = pair of big
hooks.
When Captain Hines arrived on the
fishing grounds at Sable island last
May he discovered that the schools Of
fish were slow TO take the clam bait
Instead the cod seemed to be pursuing
the herring which Infested the waters.
Confronted with this problem, the cap
tain set to work to solve it. 1t was i'm
possible to obtain herring enough for
bait, and the thought struck him that
a device made to deceive the cod would
solve his troubles.
With a piece Of lead the captain
fashioned little fish over the upper
ends of two large cod hooks and threw
the device overheard at the end Of a
line as an experiment. A cod snapped
at the jigger and was hauled aboard
the dory. Another and another were
caught by the same method in rapid
succession. Immediately the crew Of
twenty-five on Captain Hines vessel
set to work modelling jiggers. In an
other day the men were busy hauling
aboard scores of cod caught by the new
device.
The Goldfish does not bite the bait,
but swallows It whole, with the result
| that whenever one Of the fish tackled
a lead jigger he usually swallowed
both hooks in his greed to gulp down
the little lead fish above.
Captain Angus discovery was due to
| his knowledge of the habits Of the cod.
| fish. He knew the cod was one Of the
greediest fish In the sea. When hungry
a cod snaps at almost any kind of a
fish. Often fishermen have cut out Of
| these fish stones and cookies, pieces Of
slate, wood and other articles which
the fish had mistaken for prey and had
! gulped down ere 1t was too late.
Captain Hines vessel was known a.
one Of the ablest hand liners Of the
Gloucester feet. carrying twenty boats.
which during the stay at the grounds
were each occupied by one fisherman
with jggers and lines.
In places where the bottom Is sandy
the fishermen upon their arrival last
spring were able to see thousands OF
cod swimming below the surface. As
| a consequence when fish made rush
for the jgger aud failed to capture
the lead bait little Jerk of the fisher
mans line would often result in im-
paling the prey in the side OF hooking
1t by the tail.
So successful we're the men on the