We trolled with lines 125 feet long at the stern of the boat, and
caught several Spanish Mackerel. I caught 2 and Bro Cannon
1. We went onto the Jew fish ground but caught none, they
weigh from 100 to 400 lbs each. The boatman took us to a place
where it is said there is a flat stone of some 200 yards wide
and about 500 yards in length, and at a depth of about
650 feet. We cannot anchor, but the captain labors to
keep over the rock. We used lines 650 feet long and
at the end is fastened about 1 dozen short lines and
hooks, and on the end of the line fastened a rock about
3 lbs weight to sink the line to the rock, the hooks
were baited with Sardines. We cast over these
lines and Asahel's got caught in the Stern of the
Steamer and lost the whole 650 feet. The one I had
went to the bottom, and it was too hard work for me
to pull up 20 or 30 lbs of fish 650 feet. I only pulled up
once with some 12 or 15 lbs weight of fish. I then gave
it to Asahel. The man with us, James Gardner, helped
him let out the line and haul it up and brought up
6 fish which would weigh about 40 lbs. The next time
he had 4 on about 25 lbs. It takes a long time to make
a haul. The fish will weigh from 6 to 15 lbs each, nearly
as red as blood, and they are dead when they get to the
top of the water. Their bladders burst; being relieved
from the pressure of water causes this. They are
said to be good to eat. The name of this fish is Grooper.
There must be thousands upon the rock, for the hooks

We trolled with lines 125 feet long at the stern of the boat, and caught several Spanish Mackerel. I caught 2 and Bro Cannon 1. We went onto the Jew fish ground but caught none, they weigh from 100 to 400 lbs each. The boatman took us to a place where it is said there is a flat stone of some 200 yards wide and about 500 yards in length, and at a depth of about 650 feet. We cannot anchor, but the captain labors to keep over the rock. We used lines 650 feet long and at the end is fastened about 1 dozen short lines and hooks, and on the end of the line fastened a rock about 3 lbs weight to sink the line to the rock, the hooks were baited with Sardines. We cast over these lines and Asahel's got caught in the Stern of the Steamer and lost the whole 650 feet. The one I had went to the bottom, and it was too hard work for me to pull up 20 or 30 lbs of fish 650 feet. I only pulled up once with some 12 or 15 lbs weight of fish. I then gave it to Asahel. The man with us, James Gardner, helped him let out the line and haul it up and brought up 6 fish which would weigh about 40 lbs. The next time he had 4 on about 25 lbs. It takes a long time to make a haul. The fish will weigh from 6 to 15 lbs each, nearly as red as blood, and they are dead when they get to the top of the water. Their bladders burst; being relieved from the pressure of water causes this. They are said to be good to eat. The name of this fish is Grooper. There must be thousands upon the rock, for the hooks