Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-05-04

OF Gloucester's herring feet by
ice In the Bay Of Islands and
Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, the
quick dash OF the revenue cut
ters Gresham and Androscoggin to aid
In their rescue, and the subsequent
release of the vessels, has called at
tention to a region little known to the
general public. but Of great Importance
to the fishermen of Gloucester.
Bay of Islands and Bonne Bay, not
quite half way. up the west coast OF
Newfoundland. are two of the smallest
inlets of the island, yet for well over
half a century the herring industry
has been centered there.
The uncertainties attending naviga-
ton in this part of the ocean are en-
phasised when dispatches announced
the release of the Imprisoned vessels
when an easterly wind forced the ice
of shore before the two revenue cut
ters got there. thus enabling the ves-
sells to escape into clear water, al
though they were still in peril from
the ice. which might easily have come
back again.
The perils of q trip to Newfound-
land to purchase q load OF herring
from tho natives are known to every
GIoucester fisherman, and for fishing
vessels to be caught In either of the
two bays and forced to spend the
winter there while their cargoes spoil
is no new occurrence. 1t is unusual.
. however, for SO large O feet to be
shut in by the huge cakes Of what
sailors call "slob ice." Seventeen Of
the schooners were penned in at Bay
Of Islands. seven we're frozen in at
Bonne Bay, and one vessel, the Will
liam Morrissey, was wrecked of Tac
BILE Point in endeavoring to escape.
Scenery Picturesque.
Bay of Islands is a picturesque
place, attractive In the summer, even
though winters stay there would
prove monotonous. AS it's name Inn
plies, It is studded with islands. some
of which rise to lofty height. At its
entrance the bay is 10 miles wide, and
1t Is there that most of the islands
are situated. Easily accessible. 1t is
a spacious inlet, being 10 miles in
depth. with fine anchorage ON the
southern side.
several arms make out, known as
North, South and Humber Arms. or
to fishermen, as Big, Little and Middle
Arms The most important of these
arms is that called Humber sound,
which extends from the southeastern
part of the bay for about 28 miles
easterly into the country. The river
Humber Is at its mouth, and IL the
second largest stream of the island.
To the south of the sound rises a
range Of hills called Blo-mi-don, or
| Blow-me-down hills. varying In height
from 500 to 1000 feet. AS they near
the river tho hills level gradually un.
II. at the rivers edge their height Id
no in excess of BOO feet. Except IN
winter they present a rich; coiorins OF
varied foliage which extends to the
river banks
The settlement or village OF Bay OF
Islands contains less than z,000 peo
Die, and is well up the Humber Arm
Nesting at the foot OF the hills and
sheltered by their peaks, the village
with its tiny white houses is typical
of the smaller settlements of the is
land. Its inhabitants are mainly sflsh
erman, engaged for good part OF
the year in catching the herring which
are sold to the Gloucester men.
Smaller than Bay Of Islands and tc
the north OF that inlet is Bonnie Bay
It's fishing interests are smaller thar
those Of its neighbor, and comprise
salmon and cod In addition to herring
Soil in that vicinity is very fertile
and well adapted to grazing purposes
The fact that herring swarm In
countless millions along the gulf coast
OF Newfoundland, and particularly In
Bay OF Islands and Bonne bay, ant
that the island is comparatively sc
near the United States, yet under the
rule or another power, led to infinite
international fishing disputes The re
suit Of these wranglings has been that
American fishermen now buy all theil
herring from the natives. conflninf
their activities largely to loading the
cargoes and treating them ON the
homeward voyage.
tierrInas Spawn Early In April.
EARLY in April or May largo schools
of herring put into the deepwater bayi
to spawn, and thus are comparativel,
valueless for food purposes. beinf
used only for bait. Enormous quan
| titles of these herring are sold fo
bait for the Bank fishins vessels.