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Albion I'cArst^ Joha McQuinn John (rllHKill JcrcniiiOi Ilopklnn . Charlt'H J. Lawson . Albion Tcarse Pounds of fish. 60,000 134,400 177,300 420. 200 156, 800 30, 000 112,000 145, «00 U.^OOO IH4,40O 112,000 i;u,4oo 91,000 75. 700 [3] THE HALIBUT FISHERY DAVIS' STRAIT. Tear. Vessel. 1873 1«73 1874 1877 1878 1878 1878 1879 1878 1879 1880 1881 1881 1881 Caleb Eaton Albert Clarence Nnlli Secundns .. Henry Wilson . . Grace L. Fears.., Cunard(lo8t) Bellerophon Herman Babson . Bunker Hill MaryE Mary E Herman Babson . Mary E. Bunker Hill Total. Average for vessels returning. Captain. Jeremiah Hopkins . John Guskill Charles J. Lawson . James Jameson Randall MriDonald . Garrett Galvin Thomas Scott Charles J. Lawson . John McDonald Basmns Madson . . . Sasmus Madson . . . Charles J. Lawson . Basmns Madson ... John McDonald . . . Pounds of fish.. '"X. 62,500 51,000 163,000 01,000 60,000 60,000 140,000 140,000 75,000 70,000 188,400 84,890 170,675 3,283,765 113,233 Two vessels were lost, but one of these, the Cunard, after starting for home, went to the Grand Banks and was lost there, leaving only one lost in the Greenland fishery. The Eiver Queen probably failed to reach home because too little care had been taken in properly arranging the salted fish, thus throwing the vessel considerably out of trim. The last seen of her she w as rather low in the bow, and sailing before a northeast gale, on her way home. 2.— General summary. If one compares thi&; fishery with that of the Grand Banks there is much in its favor. The water is not so deep, and fogs are not so frequent as on the Grand Banks. Good harbors are available in case of storms, which are not common. The chmate is excellent, neither very cold nor very warm. The continual light permits fishing at all times of the day, and does away with much of the risk of the dories losing sight of the vessels. One great objection is the long distance from home, and lack of opportunities of hearing from tbe outside world. The fish, however, are plentiful, and, if the fishermen ohIj had accurate charts of the banks of the west coast of Greenland and of the harbors of Sukkertoppen and Holsteinborg, the long distance would be little thought of, as they would then be quite sure of a profitable catch. The harbor of Holsteinborg is usually open by the middle of May and perhaps fishing could be com- menced by the 1st of June, but the ice, brought by the current down the east coast of Greenland, besides blocking up the more southern harbors, will probably render the passage north too dangerous before the middle of June. On this account and because of the change in the weather about the 20th of August, the fishing here will have to be done in July and August. Besides the halibut, the common cod is also caught on the trawls of the fishermen, but not in sufticient iiiimbers to wwrrant their being salted. Tlic proportion of cod to halibut is about I to 15. The Eslcimo fish for botli in the bays and harbors, and the cod may be more plentiful there, but they are likewise smaller. REPORT OF COMMISSIO>^ER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] The fine sabiiou of the coast might aflord profitable fishing. This opiu- iooi is founded upon the quantity of these fish the natives catch with their rude appliances, and sell for $4 to $8 a barrel to the Danish trade agents. If the American fishermen were acquainted with the deep fiords, and should engage in this fishery with all the modern improvements for seine fishing, they would probably meet with gi-eat success. There is, however, this probable limit: the fish are caught mostly in June and July when they visit the mouths of the fresh-water creeks. After this they become scarce, but, if the fishermen do not succeed in securing a cargo of salmon, they have at least a month, after the salmon season is over, during which they can set their trawls for halibut. The average of 113,233 pounds of salt halibut for a trip is a good average, but does not represent fully what the fishery may become in the future. For, several of the trips were made the conclusion of cod- fishing trips to the Grand Banks, and the vessels were already partly filled with cod, leaving not enough room for a full cargo of halibut. Thus the Mary E., in 1871, '79, '80, and '81, fished first on Flemish Cap, and from there \, ent to Greenland. In 1871 she did not reach the Davis Strait fishing-ground until August 20, and left off fishing August 28 but during these eight days she secured 30,000 pounds of halibut. In 1879 the Herman Babson had on board G0,000 pounds of codfish, which she brought from the Grand Banks. If we omit from our calcu- lations the Mary E., which is comparatively a small vessel, the above average will be increased to nearly 121,000 pounds for each trip. Again, since the fishermen first visited Davis' Strait, the methods of fishing in that region have altered considerably, principally because the first fishermen were unacquainted with the fishing banks, and were afraid to remain on them whenever the wind showed signs of increasing to a gale. Because of this, Visits to the harbor were frequent, and miich time was lost in regaining the banks after the blow was over. The cus- tom now is to remain on the banks as much as possible, and to fish at every opportunity, and, had this method been employed from the start, the average would have been considerably larger. The success of the Bunker HiU, in 1881, proves this beyond a doubt. This vessel, though not arriving upon the banks until July 11, com- menced fishing before going into the harbor, and by persistent effort., in spite of unfavorable weather, secured the largest fare of any vessel since the beginning of the fishery. In the future, competition among the fishermen will become greater, knowledge of harbors and fishing banks more definite and wide-spread, improved methods of fishing will be introduced, and, as the demand for the fish and the confidence of the fishermen increase, the Greenland halibut fishery will grow until it may even rival in imiwrtance the sum- mer fishery of the Grand Banks. [5] [5] THE HALIBUT FISHERY — DAVIS STRAIT. B.— FISHING GROUNDS. 3. — Location and character. The fishing banks are fifteen to forty miles from the coast and, if we can rely upon the Danish charts, extend from Disko Bay to within 3^ of Cape FareweU; for these charts give soundings all along the coast between these two points. Extensive as the banks may be, only a small part of them, the part about Holsteinborg and Cape Amalia, has been tried by American fishermen. That the fish are to be found throughout their whole extent is more than probable ; for the species is identical with that taken on the Grand Banks, and we would naturally infer it would be found in all favorable situations within the limits of its dis- tribution. It is also reported that Oapt. Rasmus Madson, commonly known as "Captain Hamilton," who has been to Greenland several times, set his trawls for these fish farther to the south (probably off of Godthaab) and found them very abundant, but was unable to secure many on account of the numerous ground-sharks playing the mischief with his trawls. At Cape Amalia are the favorite fishing-grounds of the natives, and a few of the Gloucester vessels have visited them, but, as the fishing there is mostly by anchoring in the harbor and sending the dories a dis- tance of two or three miles, this place does not ofl'er many inducements to our fishermen. The best luck has attended the vessels fishing off and to the south of Holsteinborg. Previous to 1872 the fishing-grounds were 4 or 5 miles off Holstein- borg. That year, however, some of the fleet went 30 miles off this settlement, and since that time most of the fishing has been done on this latter ground. In 1879, the fishing in July was on this ground, but in August better fishing was secured on a new ground 20 miles south of this. In 1881 the best fishing was found in the vicinity of Victor i Island, some 15 miles from shore, in water from 14 to 28 fathoms deep. Between the old ground off Holsteinborg and Victori ground there is a gully over 150 fathoms deep and 15 or 20 miles wide, and there is probably another gully south of Victori ground. The depth of water on the banks is from 15 to 90 fathoms and, on this account, the fishing is much easier than in the deep water of the Grand Banks. At the inner edge the banks have a sudden slope, leav- ing a long submarine valley, the depth of which I did not ascertain, between them and the mainland. The surface of the banks is varied, though generally rocky, with here and there sandy and clayey spots. The chara(!t«-'r of the fauna varies considerably and often abruptly in places a little distance apart, as the following extract from my diary of the 25th of July will show: "The fish caught to-day and two i)receding KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] days have not been taken on all sides of the vessel, but in one partic- ular spot, where the bottom is more attractive than elsewhere. This spot is covered by tunicata called 'sea-lemons' and 'sea-pumpkins.' The moment the trawls strike the bottom covered by the stems of hydrozoa, by the crew called ' trees,' the fish are no longer found in any quantity."* It will readily be seen from the preceding remarks that a careful survey of the banks, with the view of dertermining their limits, character, and fauna, could not fail of being of great use to the fishing interest, to say nothing -of its immense importance, from a natural history and geo- ligical point of view. 4.— Climate. The climate on the banks for July and August is, on the whole, very favorable for fishing. In the tables that follow I have omitted observa- tions made in the harbor, in order to avoid confusing the two climates together, for there is considerable difference. The climate on the banks is more constant in temperature and absence of rain, but more variable in respect to wind. The temperature is very constant. The lowest observed was 36° Fahr. and the highest 52° Fahr. The extremes of surface temperatures were 38|° and 43 J° Fahr. There were no sudden changes, as the tables will show. The temperature was thus very favorable for work, though per- haps a little chilly in foggy weather, but nevertheless much better than the sweltering heat of summer in our own latitude. The men even found, on sunny days, a temperature of 48° Fahr. uncomfortably warm for work. Un chilly days a fire was kept in the cabin, so that all could keep comfortable when not working. A reference to the tables of the condition of the sky will show that we had very little rain on the banks. Clouds were. common and fogs not rare, but it only rained four or five times, and then mostly in the shape of fine, misty rain, lasting at the longest only four or five hours. The tables of the wind need explanation. The directions expressed are those of the compass, which here varies about 70°; for not knowing the exact variation, I thought this the best way of expressing them . The esti- mations of the velocity is much of it guess-work, founded on remembrance of former estimates and comparisons of the wind's velocity made by my- self, and, on this account, not much reliance can be placed on them except for the relative velocities of the winds observed. The hardest blow was August 14, on' which day I have put the velocity down as between forty- five and fifty-five miles, and am well satisfied it could not have been any greater. Between this and a perfect calm I have used six numbers to designate as many different velocities : 2 for air just perceptible; 5 for a breeze of three to ten miles an hour; 13 for a breeze of ten to fifteen miles an hour; 20 for a breeze of fifteen to twenty-five miles an hour; 30 *I regard tho occuraaco of the tunicata and hydrozoa as not immediately, if at all, casual, but rather concomitant, for I failed to tind traces of either in the stoiuachs of the fish. [6] very m THE HALIBUT FISHERY — DAVIS STRAIT. for a breeze of twenty-five to thirty-flve miles an hour; 40 for a breeze of thirty-five to forty-five miles an hour; and 50 for a breeze of forty-five to fifty-five miles an hour. The temperature, sky, and winds were quite different in the harbor. The land on all but the sea side of the harbor rises abruptly and not only protects it from the winds, but also permits the sun to warm the surface of land and water more than in an exposed place. The thermom- eter is, therefore, more variable than in the strait, and the wind is seldom felt. The mountains, by causing the condensation of the vapors of the sea breezes, make fogs and showers frequent. I have also given tables of the height of the barometer, made from an aneroid belonging to the captain. This was hung up in the cabin and I noticed considerable variation in the instrument whenever a fire was built there. When this variation was very marked, I have indicated the same in the tables by an asterisk. The season of 1879 was, however, uncommonly mild for Pavis' Strait, and the weather that summer more favorable for fishing than it has been since. In 1880 the Herman Babson was started for Greenland, but was turned back in 52° N. lat. by immense quantities of icebergs and field ice. The Mary E. succeeded in getting through by going farther to the eastward. In 1881 the three vessels that went to Davis' Strait skirted the ice 200 to 300 miles before succeeding in getting through, and, even after reaching the fishing-grounds, they were obliged several times during the summer to change their positions on account of drifting bOTgs. This ice is carried by the currents down the east coast of Greenland, and thence across to the Strait of Belle Isle, and the fishermen will probably encounter more or less of it every year. 30 ^ REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] ■ra d xt •ra -cl ox •ni-de •nidg H H O •a a £ si s ■** -2 & H •lU'd i •tndg •ra "d s I ° ■ra 'd ^ o •rade •ra-ds •lU'dx I ° •m-B XI ! ° •ra«oi I o •ra 'u 8 o •m •« 8 I o •ra^fli •ra*B9 o ■ra-og •ra*B^ •ra^^e •m.-vz •ra"Bi •»q3l«P!K ^ 05 CO Pi CO CO CO •s fS CO "V ' ^' ^ S5 'CO 9 ss s^o? 4 S" ss 5t ^^ TJ* ^ ^Jt 5 f 3 ■ 9;$ is: 1"^ :5 "^ Tl* "^ '*!I' S9 ubOQOC ^ CO ''r '^ ' o^^ rHc«^«»«et.«»o^g«2;:52J5Ss§s?Jsa5s§aaa§s [8] [9] THE HALIBUT FISHERY DAVIs' STRAIT. •nidxt •lu -d 01 •01 -de •rads •cod i •nfd9 •tn-dg •to'd f H m 1--^ ti !" rt > t3 < o e. § t^ H « M j3 K H ■u < -^ (A H £ H 1 H .£3 •in •da •nidz •UI'dT •noo^ •m •« xt , o •m •« 01 1^ O H a i 9 =• •ra-ue •OfUg •ni"B i •ra-ng •la •« g •ra •« ^ o •nj-Bg ■ni-oj •Bl •« t O fmSpipjH :!9 S ^C ^1 • ^t ^1 iram« sss??-*-* Hsssg H i^ 5 *^ SP 2 ^ t- 1- "V ''t' ^J* ^f ^' ^' ^t* "^ ^' .H«HeiH 53^ is i^ss V ^ V I ^ t ^ ^ ^ f i :h ^(P ^1 ^Jl ^f i^ : :5 3$ 9$ CO ^ ^ f I i 1 I o 1 85 I I 3$ 1 § s .a 1 B -"J REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] •radii •ra -d 01 s CO « H Em O § P !zi O o i CO 5 •ra-d6 ■ra-dg ■ra-d I ■nx-dg '01 'ds •ni"d f •rad 8 ■ends •tn'd X •aoo^ •ni -v XI •ra-wot ■in -8 •af«8 •OITS i ■ran 9 •ra"«fl ■01 "Vt ■m-ve •m-Bg ■ra-H X •»'l»!npjre «}*H So Vi; u AAfi B,a<, Xi^A fim A» fiiA A» C^ : : : : tc}^ :: :.i4 . . . .i': . . 6 : H,a ! ! • I ! I d6^6 6 ddd j ! '• I I d d d d d.^ d d ^ ; ^d ja.a •u^ UvJ e e *" I I I I 1 I 1 I I S Cfd (J * • V) * ■ : : : ; d ^d^i •^ ::© :;:::: Id rri ! I ! I I : : ! ! •* ^^•fOii Ill I I ( I M '::::;:::: : • •1*11 a o o o J C 6 • 10 20 21 22 \ 20 1 23 NNW. 13 NW. 2 \ ; 24 26 26 27 28 N. 13 » ! NE. 13 . S-by-W D NNW 18 NW. 2 NB. 13 i n: J NE. 5 S.bvW \- 20 80 81 . , — Calm, byO. J lut peroeptlb le, by 2. 3 to 10 tnllos, by No 5. Bbeorvatlo at B. 5 WNW. 20 NE. 5 NNW. 13 NW. 2 ENE. 5 S.by-W. [13] THE HALIBUT FISHERY — DAVIs' STRAIT. ti^:e velocities or the wind for jult. i "A B p. E.byN. NE. 20 I 20 NE. 20 NKB. 18 8W. 5 » i NNE, 13 8W. 5 NE. 13 STV. WNW. 13 NNE. 13 SW. 5 SW. 5 NE. 13 WNW. WNW. 5 I 5 18 NE. 5 WNW 5 NE. NE. 20 ENE. 5 NNE. 20 SW. 5 NE. 5 SW. 5 NE. 13 NE. 20 NE. 20 ENE. 2 ENE. ! ENE. 20 ' 20 SW. SW. 5 , 5 P< cs s p< 00 NE. 20 SW. \ 5 \ NNE : NNE. 13 ! 13 (; ESE. \\ 13 SW. 2 NNE. NE. 13 |....j WNW. 20 !i SW. 13 WNW. 5 W. 13 KB. S NNW. 13 \ \ ENE. 5 i NB. 5 NNW. 5 N. fi NE. 2 NNW. 5 NE. 2 NE. 5 NE. 13 NE. •5 SW. 2 NW. 5 W. 13 W.byS. 13 NE. NE. 13 NE. 5 NW. S ENE. 5 1 N. 8W. 5 W8W. 80 N. 18 a 4. ENE. 6 NNE. 13 ENE. 5 10 to 15 bbUm, by U. maJe In bubor. 13 to 26 mllea, by 20. SB to 80 miles, by 80. ■V REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] TABLK SHOWING THE DIRECTIONS AND RELA Aug. 3 « 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 U 15 16 17 18 10 20 21 22 23 24 26 20 27 28 20 30 81 i^ NE. 60 NE. 5 NE. 30 a ta E. 2 ! ■•{ S B. 2 WNW. 2 NE. 50 WNW. 30 NNE. 30 ENE. 5 WSW. 20 20 NE. 80 NE. 80 NE. 20 NE. 80 NB. 20 sw: 20 SE. 2 S. 2 SW. 20 SW. NE. 13 SSE. 5 WSW. 5 NE. 30 8W. 13 S ei OS a o WSW. 20 8. 6 SW. 2 W. 5 WbyS. 6 SW. 80 5 SW. \ 13 WSW. 20 SSW. 5 W. 5 WbyS. 5 a SW. 18 WSW. 13 NNW. 5 1! Calm, by 0. Just perceptible, by 2. 3 to 10 mile*, by 6. I0tol5mil«i*,byl8. No obwrvftUoiut [15] THE HALIBUT FISHERY DAVIS' STRAIT. TIVE VELOCITIES OF THE WIND EOK AUGUST. I a 6, a 0< to P. a 6i Pi a a 0. sw. 13 wsw. 13 NNW. 13 <, NW. \ 2 ( sw. \ 80 < w. J 13 urcs rc- ■ position t»o of tbe be likelj^ and with iik; (lays I it would ), instead 'he obser- ressed in jtions are jst, it will the strait. 5 p.m. 3E.XS, )0 feet. 6p. m. SE. 60 feet. with that 1 the east ick water, Trent and vhile flsh- ukkertop- ing to the tter. The utilization jppeu and ing impos- sually cor- )r, by care- sleep while be remem- k all night ! preceding ition a few ents. The The whole uore miles ninff out of uths. [19] THE HALIBUT FISHERY DAVIs' STRAIT. Temperature of the watei; at every ten fathoms, on the Fishing Banks, off the west coast of Greenland, latitude 00° +. Time, July and August. July G. Latitude GG^ 25'. Taken between 3 and 4 p. m., during tlio slack, after the tide had been running norfh. " ° Fahr^ Temperature of air 3° Temperature of surface 38f Temperature of 10 fathoms 37f Temperature of 20 fathoms 36i Temperature of 30 fathoms 35i Temperature of 40 fathoms, bottom 35^ July 7. Same place and time of day. ^ , Temperature of air '*^ Temperature of surface 38t Temperature of 10 fathoms 37i Temperature of 20 fathoms --• 36i Temperature of 30 fathoms - 35J Temperature of 40 fathoms, bottom — 35i August 2. Taken between 7.30 and 8 p. m. . ^ Temptfrature of air --<■ ^ Temperature of surface 42J Temperature of 10 fathoms 39f Temperature of 20 fathoms '. 38i Temperature of 30 fathoms 38 Temperature of 37 fiithoms, bottom 37^ Aucust 5. Taken between 7 and 7.30 a. m. Tide very slack. " ° Fahr. Temperature of air ^^J Temperature of surface 41J Temperature of 10 fathoms " 38i Temperature of 20 fathoms 38i Temperature of 30 fathoms 38 Temperature of 35 fathoms, bottom 37 August 8. Taken 6 p. m. The time of slack different in places a few miles apart; likewise the force and direction of the current. ° Fabr. Temperature of air '*^ Temperature of surface 43^ Temperature of 10 fathoms 41 Temperature of 20 fathoms 38i Temperature of 24 fathoms, bottom - 37f August 20. Taken between 8 and 8.30 p. m. Slight surface tide. About 40 miles W.S.W. from Holsteinborg. ' ^ ^ ^ Temperature of air ^ Temperature of surface 43 Temperature of 10 fathoms 41f Temperature of 20 fathoms 39^ Temperature of 25 fathoms, bottom 38i The preceding observations, though few, will show very well the temperature of the water on bauk» at vaiiousj depths. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [20] !l|f Ilii i r^ C. — Hakboks. The harbors of greatest use to the lishernien will be those of Ilolsteiu- borg and Sukkertoppen. Of the latter I can say nothing, except that it is reported, by those who have been there, as a good harbor. Holstein- borg, surrounded on three sides by the mainland and on the other by several islands, is completely protected from the rough water, and is only exposed to the wind on the side towards the strait, from which quarter there is scarcely ever a violent blow. The harbor is large, and has a depth of 10 to 25 fathoms. The harbors mentioned are ninety miles apart, and as the best fishing we had was about half way between the two, we could easily have run into one of them, whichever way the wind might have been. Previous to the summer of 1879, which was considered very mild, the fishing vessels went into harbor at least, three times a month. This was due to the S. W. and K E. winds, which, combined with the strong tides and comparatively shallow water, would soon raise a "nasty sea<" These blows, though perhaps not extremely dangerous, would frequently occasion loss if an attempt was made to ride them out, either by the breaking of some part of the rigging, or, if the deck was filled with fish when the wind came, by the loss of a part or all of these. Nor are winds and waves the only things causing the vessels to seek the harbor. It is frequently very convenient to leave some things on shore, so as to have more room in the vessel. Thus the Bunker Hill left barrels of pickled Jins on shore, and Captain Lawson left there, until ready to return home, quite a cargo of codfish he had brought from the Grand Banks, but which was in liis way while fishing. New supplies of water must also be secured. The harbor of Holsteinborg usujilly is open by the middle of May, and perhaps fishing could be commenced by the first of June, but the ice that is brought down the east coast of Green- land, besides blocking up the more southern harbors, will probably render the passage north too dangerous before the middle of June. On this account, and because the change in the weather about the 20th of August, the fishmg here will have to be done in July and August. M C— FISHING. 7. — ^TlMK OP YEAR FOB FISHING. The time for fishing in these waters is July and August. There is no doubt but that the fish will bite both earlier and later than this, but these are the best months, and August is better than July. Besides abund- ance of fish, other considerations, such as climate and the passage to the strait and home again, tend to limit the time to these months. The fish caught in August were in much better condition, and had a much larger proportion of females than those caught in July. This may, however, have been due to the fact that the fishing was done on an entirely dif- :s. [20] f Holsteiu- xcept that Holsteiu- Q other by ter, and is fom which large, and luety miles stween the y the wind i mild, the nth. This the strong lasty sea<" frequently tier by the il with fish els to seek s things on linker Hill [here, until it from the w supplies ■ usually is menced by t of Green- [ probably June. On bhe 20th of igust. rhere is no }, but these [les abund- sage to the . The fish uch larger ', however, ntirely dif- [21] THE HALIBUT FISHERY DAVIS' STRAIT. fereut part of the bank in August than the preceding month, and also to a difterenco in the food of the fish. 8. — Apparatus and methods. The fishing is done by means of trawls. A trawl is composed of several parts. First, there is the " ground line," which is anchored at each end, and lies on the bottom. The hooks are attached to lines 5 feet long, called gangings, which are in turn fastened to the ground line at every 2 fatlioms, sometimes at every 2J. To mark the position of each end of the trawl, a line extends from the anchor at the end of the ground line to a buoy on the surface of the water. The main or ground line is about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and is made up of parts, 50 fathoms long. Each of these parts has one end fastened, so that it will not unravel, while the other has a loop spliced in it. The end not spliced is tied by a knot, that is both strong and secure, but still easily untied, to the loop end of the next part. The trawls can thus, by using more or less of these 50 lathom pieces, be made of any desired length, but, -^rhen not in use, six of these parts are usually kept fastened together, and are then called a tub or skate of trawl, according to the manner of keeping them. In fishing for cod and haddock, and formerly in the halibut fishery also, they were kept coiled up in tubs; whence the name "tub of trawl," meaning 300 fathoms of trawl. But now, in the latter industry, they are kept in what are called skates. A skate 4s a piece of canvas about a foot and a half square, having two pieces of rope, G feet or. so in length, so fastened across it that an end projects from each corner. Upon this canvas the 300 fathoms of trawl are coiled and firmly secured by the ropes, tied together above. The phrases "tub of trawl" and "skate of trawl" are often synony- mous. Thus on the Bunker Hill, though no tubs were used to keep the trawls in, it was quite common to hear the fishermen speak of setting two or more "tubs of trawl." The buoys used on this trip were of two kinds: the "boat buoys" and "keg buoys." The boat buoys were blocks of wood, three feet long, cut in the shape of a round-bottomed row-boat, and coated with tar. The buoy line is attached by means of a swivel to the under part of the buoy, just in front of the middle. Back of the middle is bored a hole from top to bottom, through which passes the flag-pole. This pole fits in loosely so that it turns freely and can be taken out for easy packing in the dory. In order that it may not slip too far through the hole, a piece of leather is nailed round the pole above the hole, and, to keep it upright, a Aveight is attached to its lower en through with the hauling of their trawls, an oar :s raised as a signal for a dory to com(> and take the fish already caught, that the hauling may be interrupted as little as ,>ossible. If, on the other hand, all of the fishermen are busy when the boat -load is secured, the ground line is buoyed at the end of one of the .".(Mathom pieces, while the load is carried t^ the vessel. Kclieved of then' loail, the men return to the buoy they have just left and continue the haulnig. Sometimes ihe tiawl is (taught in the rocks, so that it is necessary to break it and connnenco at the inside buoy lor the hauling of the re- mainder. Should it be caught and broken ti»e second time, there is great danger of losing the i>art that is still in the water, unless it can be caught by the grapple, 'ihe grapjfle is a chain with an iron bar at one end and having, at several ])laces along its length, circles of iron points, three or f«JMr iiU'hoH loni:;. directed away from the end to which the bar is attached. It is used in the following manner: Three men go in the [25] THE IIALIIUJT FISHERY DAVIS' STRAIT. dory, two to row Jiiul one to Jittcnd to tlic f;ra])i)le. This, fustcned to a line by the end toward wliieli tlie iron points are directed, is let down until the iron bar drags upon the bottom, but not so low as to permit the whole chain to drag. The men row back and forth over the spot where they think the trawl is, and, if they are right in their calcula- tions, it is hard to see how they can tail to grapple it. The fish are taken from the dories by the large iron hooks, already mentioned as being used in the small boats. When a load of fish is brought to the side of the vessel, one of the fishermen holds the stern and another the bow i)ainter, while the man in the stern hooks the fish and hands them up to his dory mate, standing on deck ready to haul them on board. The last set was made August 27, and was done while the vessel was under sail. Comparatively little fishing had been doiui since the 20th, for the wind had prevented the setting of the trawls, though the hand line showed that the fish had not departed. The captain accordingly decided to run into harbor and ])repare for going home, but, finding the wind near the shore rather gentle and the water smooth, thought best to see how the fish would bite near the mouth of the harbor. As this was the first time we had set under sail, I was curious to see how it was managed. The dories set in turns. First one is towed astern, while the outside buoy and buoy line are being thrown overboard, then it is set adrift and the rest of the trawl set at right angles to*the end of the hook a short rope, having a cross-piece of wood, is fastened. The fish is hooked in the small of the tail, and, being drawn up on the inclined table, is secured there, head downwards, by placing the rope in a notch cut in the top <'dge of the table, the cross- piece of wood preventing its slipping ba<;k. • It will be remembered that the halibut is shaped somewhat like our common flounder, or flat fish. The backbone, with its spines lying in the same i)lane with the body, leaves, on each side, a thick layer of bone- less flesh. These layers, called flitches\ are what the men are after. After the flaps of the dorsal nid ventral flus have been cut off close to the body, a cut, deep enough to reach the plane of the backbone and extending from the head to the tail, is made, about 2 inches from and parallel to the dorsal line of the body, followed by a similar cut from the gills to the tail, but on the ventral edge of the body. These two are then connected at the head by a cut parallel to a gill plate and at the tail end by a straight cross-cut. For the better handling of the flitch, a slit, large enough to admit the hand, is made at each end. The flitch is then grasped at the posterior part with one hand, and, as it is raised by this hand, is cut free from the backbone with the other. The fish is then turned over and the other flitch taken o& in the same manner. The cuts made parallel to the «lorsal and ventral edges of the body, being 3 inches or more froui these, leave strips of flesh and fat attached to the inner bones of the fins, which, when pickled, bring a good price under the name of halibut fins. Accordingly, after the flitches, these strips are cut off and pickle,(>00 fish, amoiuitiiig to 14(>,fiO(> pounds of Hitches, having used a little over nine-tenths of t!ie whole rpiantity. This salt came from Cadi/, Spain, and cost fi.oO per hogshead, or $ l()."» for the whole. 10. — TAniTLAi; VIEW <.F SI MMEK WOltlv. The following tables re[)resr, in a concMse form tlie times of setting undhanlingof the trawls, the number of fish caught at each haul, together [26] ;• tlie flsll upon the OSS-piece tail, and, i-uwards, he cross- Uke our lying in •of bone - ire after, i" close to )oue and from and from the ; two are id at the e flitch, a e flitch is raised by sh is then • the body, attached ood price les, these ng- of the iier one is arge tubs dirt, pre- nd to the hree men six hirge led by the Hitches in le grocers •d shovels ester with )unting to t lis of the $1.50 per of sotting 1, together [27] THE HALIBUT FLSIIERY DAVIs' STRAIT. with the depth of water, tides, weather, &c., while the trawls were in the water. I have taken the time when the men left the vessel for setting and hauling to represent the time of these operations. To set four skates of trawl usually took a little less than one hour, while for hauling the same, esiiecially if there were many flsh, ixHpiired three, and often four hours. Since the outer end of the trawl was set last and hauled flrst, this would remain in the water less time than that represented by the tables, while the inner end, set first but hauled last, would be in the water much longer. Yet, as a rule, more flsh were caught on the outer than on the inner end. Many things are unfavorable for the traAvls remaining long in tlie water. In the first place, if the fish are i)resent they will soon hook themselves, and more time than is necessary for this is, of course, wasted. Then, again, the tide, fish, or both combined, are apt to entan- gle the trawls in the rocks, if these are left too long i n the water. Besides, the voracity of the little shrimp would soon leave nothing but the bones of the halibut for the disappointed fishermen, were they allowed many hours to satisfy their appetites. So plentiful are these little creatures in some places that they could be scraped ofl" the fish by the handfuls, and, when the trawls hale nund)er taken during the trip over nine thousand. Sixty-six hauls are recorded in the table, by which 8,G10 fish were taken, averaging 139 for each haul. The smallest lunn- ber taken at a single set was four, the depth being 27 fathoms, and the largest number was 497, the depth being between 25 to 30 fathoms. The depths expresse\ii\\. Kt'HiiukH. m... 1 4« . m.. 06 m .. 144 . m.. 94 ni. .. 00 Fath. 40 40 40 40 40 Wiml S.W. Cloiuly, wlUi Hllttiit mM. Tide Hliicld'iiiii); Croiii ninulnjf N. Slilfti-d position. Wlml W.N.W. »nr. Cloudy. Tide strong. Four skates to a dorv. 26 6.45 a. ni... 10.45 a. m.. 162 35-40 AVind gentle. N. Misting. Tide running strong to N.E. Shifted position. 27 6a. in 9.30 a. ni... 24 55-60 Calm. Cloudy. Tide running iiorthwanl. Four skates to a dory. On edge of hank, (.'aim. Cloudy and misting. Tide slackening. 27 12.45 p. m.. 3.40 p. m... 25 5.5-00 Two skates to a dory. On edge of bank. Shifted position. Windsligit, N.E. Low fog ; clear above. Tide 28 5.30 a. ni. .. 8.40 n. in... 7 (.') moderate. Two skates to a dory. Shiftesit ion. 5 2.30 p. in .. n p. ni 274 35 Wind gentle, N. v'leiir, with few doiids. Tido slackening. Four skates to a dory. 6 3 a. m 5.45 a. ra... 84 35 Wind very slight, E. Sky clear, tide nearly slack when hauled, 'I'wo skate's to a dory. U 0.20 p. in... 0> 172 C) Calm. Cloudy. Tide slackening. Fourakate* io a dory. 1 i.l.'i 11. ni... lOn. in 251 25-30 Calm. Clouil,\ . Tide ('(uumeneing to run strong. Two skates to a dorv. 7 2.15 p. in... p. in 407 25-30 Calm. Nearly dear. Tide slackening. Four skates to a dory. 8 2.15 p.m.. 5 p. Ill 5.80 p. Ill . . . 407 25-30 Calm, ('londv. 9 2.40 p.m.. 430 2.5-30 AVind slight from thcAV. Hazy, followed by fog. AVind moderate, AV.S.AV. Cloudy. Tide slack- 10 a p. m (?) 234 25-30 ening. Four skates to a dorv. 11 4.1.1 a.m... ?tt. in 61 2,^)-,10 A\ iiid moderate. S.W. I'wo skates to a dory. 11 1.10 p.m... Sp.iu 03 25-ao AVind W, moderating. Cloudy. HhilteU poai- tion. [29] THE HALIBUT FISHERY — DAVIs' STRAIT. Table for July and August, represcniiny the iimea of xctliuy and hauling traxvla, ^c. — Cont'd. Date. Set. llauk'd. Fish. Depth. Path. .KciiiiukH. Aug. 12 4.50 p. m... 7.30 p. m .. 254 35 Wiuil)rciitle, E.N.E. Clear. Tide slack. Two skates to a ilorv. 15 4 a. ni 6.45 a. m... 60 35 Wiud N.W., ficslii'iiiuK. (.'loudy. Oue .skate to a d(>rv. 15 4.45 a. m. .. 7 p. Ill 63 35 Calm. Cleaiinji, followed by blue sky. Two skates to a doiv. to 6.30 a. m . . . 8.10 a. m... 102 35 Wind Rpntlo, N.E. Sky dear. Tide strong, running to windward. Two skates to a dory. Sliiftetfpoaition. 10 2,;top. 111... 4.45 p. 111... 112 30 Wind gentle, K.E. lla/.y. Tide moderate, ninning to the east. One skate to a dory. Eish large. 10 Cp. m 8.30 p. m... 111 30. AViiid moderate, N.E. (Jlear. Tide running to windward. Two skates to a dorv. 17 Op.ni 8.10 p. m... 112 30 Wind moderate, N.E. Cloudy. Tide slack. Three skates to a dorv. Shifted i)ositiou. 18 7.10 a. m... Noon 200 30 Wind liglit, E.N.E., becoming calm. Cloudy. Tide strong. Three skates to a dorv. Fish lo excellent. Holsteinborg. 4.35 ft. m .. 7,45 p. ni . . . 68 .25 Wind gentle, N.E. by E. Clear. Tide running strong, S.S.W. Three skates to a dorv. 21 5.30 a. 111.-. 10 a. Ill 74 25 Wind moderate, N.E. Clear, followed l)y fog. Tide strong to winilwavd. Three skatrs to a dory. Wind moderate, N.E. Foggy. Tide slacken- 21 4.30 p. m... 7.30 p. m... 81 25 ing. Shifted i)osition. 24 11 a. m 2.40 p.m... 123 30 Wind moderating, N.E. (Mouds broken. Tide running to windward. Shifted position. 27 7.15 ft. in. .. (!) 18 Sr,t under sail on the inner ground, near the mouth of Holsteinborg Harbor. Total . 8,610 Average time between setting and hauling in July, 3 hours. Average time between setting and haulirtg in August, 2 liours, ,53 minutes. Average depth of water in iTuly, 45.5 fathoms. Average depth of water in August, 33 fathoms. Number of flsh caught in July 3,704 + Nurebev of flsh caught in August 4, 852 Total 8,610 + 11. — Natural history of the halibit so fab as it affects the fishing. In the preceding tables, under the head of " remarks," quite frequently occurs the phrase "Shifted position," which signifies, in this connection, a little more than mere changing of the position of the vessel ; it implies that the flsh, for some reason, are no longer to be caught where they may have been, up to that time, (juite abundant. Are the flsh of a rov- ing disposition, or do the individuals remain within restricted limits? T shall not attempt to decide, but will merely mention some facts which may have a bearing on the «piestion. The flshermen seldom expect to catch many Jisli near the vessel after the first Hitching. If you ask for an explanatiou of this, they will tell you that the "gurry" drives the halibut away. By "gurry," they mean the refuse of the tisli, that is thrown overboard at the time of tlitehiug. There is only a single case, that I know oi', which would seem opposed to this explanation. It is that of a large hnlibut which had •'aten the head,back- Ijrjtjp. sMiji vis'-'era of si fisli that hsul been lUtclied= It caiuiot bo that the flesh of their own species is distasteful to the halibnt, for this is what the EEPOKT OF com:hi8sioxi:k of fish and fishkries. [30] lishermou use for bait, nor can it be that they mistake tlie white gleam of the licsli for sharks, for the sharks caught here were of a very darlc color. Whether \Ye know the cause or not, it is none the less trne that the fish cease to bite near the vessel, after the first ilitching, whereas, if this oper- ation is delayed, or the tide, at the time of it, is strong enongh to carry the " gurry" away a considerable distance, the fish continue to bite freely. Considering, then, that the '^ gurry'' has this ettect, what is the result of remaining in one spot several days ? Evidently the mass of " gurry" will increase, and, being drifted by the tides, will cause the vessel to l)e the center of au ever-increasing spot, where the halibut will not bite. It is thus necessary, either to set the trawls at a greater distance from the vessel, or else to move this to a new spot. The latter method, of course, is the easier. On the 23d, 24th, and 25th of July, over 1,500 fish were taken from a limited spot, at some distance from the vessel, where the gurry did not reach, because the tide ran in the opposite direction, but there appeared little if any decrease in the numbers. The spot could be easily distinguished from the rest of the bottom, by the absence of the tree-like stems of Hydrozoa. On the 20th, only two of the dories suc- ceeded in setting on this spot, and these two got fish while the others failed. The attempt to bring the vessel nearer failed so utterly that the trawls did not touch the spot again ; 1,700 fish had been caught in four days, on a spot not a mile square. 1 am inclined to think that as fast as some were caught their plaees were filled by new arrivals, and were it not for the gurry, a vessel once anchored in a favorable position would not have to move until a load had been secured. But, it will be asked, will this gurry permanently injure the fishing? Probably not. There are many carnivorous animals, besides the little shrimp already spoken of, which would soon eat up everything except the bones of the fish, and it is hard to see what harm these can do. Never- theless, there does seem to be some effect produced by the fishing of one year upon the abundance of the fish in the same place the succeeding years ; for the fishermen complain that the halibut off the coasts of New England, Nova Scotia, and New Foundland must be sought in deeper and deeper water year after year. If this be so, it is hard of explanation. For if we consider the halibut as of a roving disposition, why should they shun their former haunts because they have been fished on, or if, on the other hand, they are not rovers, how can they, considering this great fecundity, be so easily exterminated, as their disappearance from these haunts would imply f This fecundity must be very great. In a fish about six feet in length 1 calculated the ovary had 2,782,425 i'^i^n. This was done by counting liow many »'ggs there were in a straight row an inch long and from this finding how many there .were in a cubi<' inch. The number of cubic Idi'Iiiic iji #)'*i^ oC the bovcK in whi<*h Hsi* !*od!lHh Isixskn i'jiiiu^ wan c*alc!!- laied iind the box filled with eggs. Tliese eggs were llun weighed. [31] THE HALIBUT FISHERY — DAVIs' STRAIT. The whole mass of eggs was next put on the scales and their weight divided by the weight of one cubic inch, to ascertain the number of cubiu inclics of eggs. This result, multiplied by the number of eggs in one anhk'. inch, would give the number of eggs in the whole ovary. Con- sidering that the number given is some too large, I cannot conceive how any error so great, as to make the number less than two millions, could have crept in. I do not know whether all these eggs \\ould have bc^en lai males tion of the captain, all the fishermen used tobacco, both by chewing and smoking, and when, toward the end of the trip, tobacco became scarce, some would save their quids for smoking, after drying. Smoking must come before and after every important operation. There was no severe sickness during the trip. One of the crew had what appeared to be the quinsy sore throat, which prevented him taking an active part in the fishing for several days. The captain seemed threatened witli eousumi)tion and was confined to his bunk a day or REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [38] two. All were more or less troubled with running sores on hands and wrists, which soon healed after the fishing was over. These were prob- ably caused by the fish slime, as several of the men showed me scars of similar sores they had had on former trips. I had two such sores, caused by fish slime getting into slight cuts, and lasting over two months, but which healed rapidly while coming home. The course taken coming home was the reverse of that going. Those who have been to Greenland after halibut several years, say that after August 20 the weather will permit of but little fishing. Our captain, however, having some salt left, decided to remain a litcle longer, so we did not start for home until the 28th of August. Then followed the active preparations for going home. The first thing was the bringing on board the barrels of fins, and the careful heading up of these. Next came the repacking of the flitches. After flitches have been packed ten or twelve days, for the first time, they are . usually repacked in a more compact form and a little more salt added. During the fishing the packing liad been mostly forward of midships, so that the bow of tl^e vessel was low down in the water, and to trim the vessel better the flitches were re- packed farther back. The trawls were also unrigged and packed away in the hold, but the cleaning of the vessel was left until we were south of the Strait of Belle Isle. The decks being cleared, and the d(>ries lashed in their places amid- ships, we started for home August 28. For the first few days the wind favored us, but before reachimg lielle Isle died out, and most of the time after that was unfavorable in direction or a dead calm. Getting south of the Strait of Belle Isle we found the climate much ditterent from that in Davis' Strait. The captain had brought a bushel or so of very fine black sand from Ilolsteinborg, and this was now used to scrub the vessel clean of fish slime, that had been collecting ever since the fishing commenced. The crew likewise took a general waieh, many of them ha\ ing their hair cut by one of the crew, who was (piite pujfu'ient in that way. Vessel and crew both seemed transformed. The passage home was uneventful, the crew being unemployed the greater part of the time. Some read, others walked the deck smoked if they could got tobacco, and lay in their bunks. Most of the food gave out, until toward the last nothing but sjilt meat and bread were left. We reached Gloucester the 17th of September. ^^ [38] INDEX .^ Page. Aarou liuraham, schooner 2 Acknowledgements 1 Albert Clarence, schooner 3 Analysis 1 Apparatus used in fishing 21 Apples, dried 37 August, climate of 3, 6, 0, 11, 14, 15, 17, 38 flshcanghtin 29 fishing in, the best 5,21,31 start for home 3^ temperature of water 10 A verago weight of flitches for all the trips 2, 3, 4 Bait 23,24,31 Baiting 23,33 Banks, fishing 4,6,18 Barometer 7,16,17 Beans 37 Bedding 33 Belle Isle, Straitof ?,35,88 BeHerophon, schooner 3 Berths 32,33 Birds 1 31,32 Boat-bnoys, (See Bnoys.) Bolls 38 Bottom 5,6 Bread 37 Breakfast. (Bee Meals.) Bunker Hill, schooner 1, 3, 4, 20, 21, 28, 32, 33, 38 Bunks. (See Beiths.) Buoylines 21,22,23,36 Bnoys 21,22,23,36 Butler 37 Cabin 6,7,32,33.36 Caleb Eaton, schooner 2 Canso, Out of 35 I'lipe Anialia 5 Cape Breton 39 Cnpe Farewell 5,18 Captain 23,32,34,37 Ca]>tuln8, list of those who have been to Greenland 2-3 Carrie Jones, schooner 2 CaMlsh 31 Chni Is, need of 2, 3, 8 Chewing of tdbacco > 37 Clark, Mr. A. Howard 1 Climate 3,0-17 Clouds. (HeoSky.) Coal UO Co«l«8b 3,4,20,23,31,37 Cod tlsliery, tubs used for keeping trawls . 21 Cotlee 37 Collins, Capl. J. W 1 Compass .... 0,18 Compotltlon, In fUtQfB ,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,... 4 Cook, the 22,33,34,37 Crew, characterof 32,36 conversation of 36 occupations of 35,36 Cunnrd, schooner 3 Currents 18 C?/cIop(«ru«, food of halibut 31 Depthof watt : 3,5,20,29 Dinner. (See Meals.) Discipline 32 DiskoBay 5 Distance from home an objection 3 Dories 3,22,23,33,33 Dory-mates 22,33,34 Dressing the halibnt 25 Dnff 37 EarU, Mr. R. E 1 Eggs, number in ovary of halibnt 30-31 Eskimo 3,4,5 Fare, largest 4 Fannaof banks 5 Fecundity of halibut 30-31 Financial arrangement 32 Fins, pickled 20,26,38 Fiords of the coast of Greenland 4, 18 Fire in cabin 6,7 Fish. (See Halibnt.) Fishermen. (See Crew.) Fishing 3,4,5,18,20,30 Fishing banks 4,18 Flag on buoy 21 Iilagpole 21 FlemishCap 4 Flitches 36,38 Flitching 26 Flltchlngknive* . 26 Flitching tables 25 Flitching tubs 23,26 Fogs 3,6 Food of crew 37,38 F(mkI of halibut 21,31 Foroeastle 33, S6 Ganglngs 21,35,36 2 3 5 3 5,20 24 21, M General dlHCusNlou of the fishery General suninmry Gotlthnub Oraee L. Fears, schooner Grand Banks 3, f Grapple Ground-lino Grounds, fishing. (Seo Bunks.) Gull. (ReolUrdH./ Gullies Ourry Gusklll, (.'apt. John ITiuIdook-flshcrv. iubt usod for tf^wla, . 6 20 2 ?1 Ilallliut . . . .'.'. ;i, 4, 20, 23, 21, 25, 26, 21, 29, 31, 02, 30, 37 REPORT or COMMISSIONER Page. ! Hamilton, " Captaiu," uot James !> I Hamilton, Capt. James '- i Harbors 3,4,0,18.20 i H.itcli, superstition relating to •''0 j Hauling the trawls '•'•-* j Hem y Wilson, schooner -J Herman T?absoii, schooner 3,4,7 Holsteinborg 3,5,18,20,35,08 Hooks 21.23,33,35 Hooks, landing : -* Hopkins, Capt. Jeremiah Hvdrozoa ''''^^ jc'o r 3,7,18,20 John Atwood, schooner 2 ,Tul,v, cUmateof 6,10.12.13,16,29 fishing in light in temperature of water June, fishing in passage north in Keg-b»io,vs Killers Knives, bait Hitching Lant Lawson, Capt. Charles Life, e very-day Light Lots drawn for dories McDonald, Capt. John McQuinn, Capt. John Mailson, Capt. Rasmus 2,3,5 Mary K., schooner 2, 3, 4, < May, harbor open In ^'•^O MeaU • ^^-''^ Membrino Chief, schooner - Menhaden used for bait "^ Methods of rtshing ''I'l Milk ^'' 37 23 3,4,!) 18 10 3,4 20 21 24 23 25 31 2,20 33 3,18 22 L3 Molasses Napes of halibut used for bait Xewfoundlaud ^"•''•'' 18 30, 35 3 Night Nova Scotia t ■ NulU Secundus, schooner Oars ■'•'^ Oaths ^I" OecnpatiouH of crew •••' » lulllne of history 2 Pfts^^age to (Ireenliuid 20.35 38 ^•as^|lKe home I'earse, ('apt. .Mbion (■easoup .. I'ies, mince .•. I'unieroy. (lapt. H. V I 'otatm^s ridfanity lUiii Ilectnm of halltrnt, temperature of. Kire pnddlns • • • • Ui-k 37 37 t> ;i7 30 ,10,11 31 37 a OV l-[Sir .VXD FISHERIES. [40] Va ..>. Kiver Queen, schooner -.3 llobi nsdu . Capt . tteorge '- Roller 23 Sailing the vessel 35 Saint Lawrence, (iuU'of 35 Salmon. * Salt, price and quantity •<> Salt meat ' "'" Salting cod " Salting halibut -■'^•Ze ' Sarah E. Wetherell, steam tug 33 Sea-lemons ^ Sea-pumpkins " Seine fishing * Setting trawls 22, 23, 2-> Sharks 30,31 ^hrimp ^7, 31 Sickness 3 1 Skates ■^1-23,35 Sky, condition of 0,10,11 Slack-water ^^ Slime, fish, ctlect on bands 3* Smoking '" Soundings (see Depth) ■' Sores 38 Start for Greenland ^^ ! Storms ^ i Sugar ^^ Sukkertoppen luirboi- 3. 1 8. 20 Summerwork. tabular view of 20 j Sunday ^"•''^ Superstitions • 33.36 Surface of banks •* Survey of banks " ' Tables, explanation of 6,7.26,27 i Tabular view of summer work 26 : Tea ^' ; Temperature 0, 7. 8. t». 1!» Tliennometer, height of "^ ^ Thovwaldseu ! Tides 1'^.^ Tobacco — •■' ' Trade agents, Danish * Trawls 21,27, 3,-,. 38 Trip, first 2 Tuborskateoftrnwl 21 Tunicata " ^ rnbooking lish 2* United States Fish Commission * Vegetable* 3i ; Vessel. (See liunl,.-r Hill,) Vessel-" that have been to (Ireenlnnd , 2.3 Vlctoii Island and tlshluggromid fi Watches 34,35 Water, depth of 3,5,29 Water, temperature of " Water, drinking 2P„37 Weather. (See Climate ) William 9. Hakev. srho(":-i 2 Wind 4.«.13,U.l.-..50 York. Ciipt. Averlll U '