Seven Canadian fishing vessels -- barred from pursuing the bluefin tuna off the US and Nova Scotia -- began working off Bermuda late last month.

Bermudians who will be sailing with them have already found it quite different from the local style of commercial fishing.

Bermudian fishermen will need deep pockets to enter the long line fishing industry. Start-up, including buying the specialised boat, could run in excess of $1 million.

Captain Merle Smiley, skipper of the Renee and Trevor , said it would be a huge financial commitment for any local fisherman. And according to Captain Smiley prohibitive Bermuda fuel costs would minimise profits.

"At $3.50 a gallon, there would be no way to make any money,'' said the veteran Nova Scotian fisherman who used 3,760 gallons on their recent 12-day trip.

The Canadians, with Bermudian fisherman Mr. Alan Mayne on board, steamed 350 miles southwest of Bermuda.

Agriculture and Fisheries Director Mr. John Barnes agreed it was unlikely Bermudians would go into long lining on the same scale, bu added: "There are other options which Bermudians will look at''.

One possibility, according to Mr. Barnes, could be a hire-purchase type agreement. More than likely, he said, Bermudians would be less ambitious and use their newly acquired skills closer to land on smaller boats.

Learning the long line technique is not that difficult with conscientious practice, said Captain Smiley. "There are tricks to every trade, but mostly it is hard and dirty work''.

Mr. Mayne readily agrees.

"It's a whole new way of fishing -- in Bermuda you just flop the fish in the boat -- out there you have to handle the fish like a basket of eggs,'' he said. "The first thing they gave me was a book on how to handle the fish -- I had never seen anything like it.'' Setting and hauling the long lines, unhooking each fish individually, cautiously beheading, gutting and packing the fish with ice and then placing it in the ice-packed hold, is backbreaking and labour intensive.

"Usually a 12-hour day is normal, but when there is work it has to be done'', said Captain Smiley.

Local fishermen are mainly concerned about keeping their catch cool and fresh.

Bumps and bruises on whole fish are acceptable as Bermudian consumers are less critical.

But in the long line business fish are treated "like newborn babies'', according to Capt. Smiley.

Fish are not allowed to hit the boat and are unhooked gently and placed on a carpeted trestle. The fish is quickly beheaded, gutted and the cavity is packed with ice and lowered into the hold.

"The fish are never allowed to touch one another in the hold to stop bruising.'' All this care, continued Captain Smiley, can mean the difference between getting $80 a pound or $10 a pound.

"The big money is in Japan. They will pay top dollar, but it has to be a perfect specimen, no bruises or blemishes and the fat content has to be within their limits.'' The Japanese are the world's largest consumers of raw fish (sushi) and demand the wafer like flakes be firm and pleasing to the eye.

Canada's moratorium on tuna coupled with the American's restriction to one bluefin tuna per trip has provided a golden opportunity for the Canadian fleet to come to Bermuda.

The pot was sweetened by a reduction on local fuel prices.

Translating this opportunity into big money is dependent on how well the highly prized bluefin cooperate.

"We haven't figured out how to catch them yet,'' he said.

In chilly Canadian waters the elusive bluefin are striking at a shallower depth than in warmer southern waters. "It's to do with thermal currents'', said the skipper.

On their first expedition off Bermuda they set a conservative 30 miles of 900 lb test line with leaders dangling between 40 and 50 fathoms. A normal set is 60 miles. Finding the right depth in the unknown waters is a matter of trial and error.

"We use sonar to find the schools of bait fish and now we have to figure out how deep to set the hooks,'' said Capt. Smiley.

Bermudians can be taught all of this and experienced fishermen are already well versed in the mechanics of sonar and boat handling. What cannot be taught is the intuition which comes from long experience.

"Sometimes you just know there are fish there, I can't explain it,'' said Capt. Smiley. "And sometimes you think you know and come up with nothing.

It's sort of like playing in Las Vegas.'' Bermudians would have to think hard before venturing into the Canadian-style long line business.

Catching the fish is half the battle. At dockside the money men take over. Mr.

Jim Redmond, coordinator and owner of one of the seven Candian boats, said there was no way of telling how much the 7000-pound Renee and Trevor catch would bring.

"I think they'll make a little money, but I really don't know,'' he said, adding he is hoping the catch will fetch $35 to $40 per pound.

Mr. Redmond also explained the fast paced, complicated process of moving the fish from the dock to the Japanese market.

"It is about speed -- Tuesday's catch will be in the Japanese market place by Friday,'' he said. "And the Japanese won't touch anything that doesn't look good -they are visual people and eat with their eyes.'' On arrival in Japan, a broker takes charge.

"The broker gets seven percent of whatever the fish bring, so he tries to get the best price.'' The fish are transported to a giant fish market and are individually sold by the pound to the highest bidder.

"It is all about money. Deals have to be completed and paid for on the same day. On Friday the fish will be sold and on Monday I'll have a cheque.'' Can Bermudians make a decent living on the Canadian boats? "They sure can,'' said Capt. Smiley. "Everyone gets an equal share after expenses.

"In an average year a crew member can earn $50,000 -- of course the Canadian Government takes most of that from us.

"We take out all the expenses and then divide the money equally.'' Mr. John Barnes.