the high seas, hundreds of miles off the Island.

The craft are on their way here from Halifax, offering locals the chance to experience their style of fishing.

Government is hoping the work will inspire Bermudians to start up their own longline fishing businesses.

Each year Government grants licences to 10 foreign vessels, allowing them to use longlines inside Bermuda's 200-mile exclusive fishing zone.

Most licences in the past have gone to Taiwanese vessels which rarely visited the Island.

But this year Canadians have seven of the licences, and they will be working out of Bermuda and calling every 10 to 14 days until May.

Law firm Cox and Wilkinson is arranging interviews for "experienced fishermen'' wanting to join the Canadians. Each vessel has agreed to employ two Bermudian crew.

Agriculture and Fisheries director Mr. John Barnes said yesterday: "The Canadians undertook to hire Bermudians who would be interested in going after fish on the high seas.

"It's added employment, and it's also an opportunity for Bermudians to get out there and see how these operations work.

"If it's financially feasible perhaps they can charter or buy a vessel on their own and do it.

"Here's the opportunity to look for species of fish we maybe didn't know were around here in any sort of numbers.'' He said Taiwanese vessels tended to be at sea for months at a time, catching albacore which they would freeze on board.

But the Canadians would be looking to sell fresher, iced fish, and would come back to the Island regularly so their catches could be flown to the US or even Japan.

"I'm not sure what kind of fish they're going to catch or where their market would be,'' added Mr. Barnes.

Government is hoping the fish exports will give more work to people like truckers.

The Canadians have also offered to buy any yellowfin tuna that local fishermen could not sell in Bermuda.

Government has stressed licences given to foreign vessels do not allow the sale of fish in the Island. Foreign vessels must fish no closer than 75 miles from shore to stop them interfering with Bermudian fishermen.

Former accountant Mr. David Young is already planning to be the first Bermudian to enter professional longline fishing.

He took delivery of the Kelly Marie after being inspired by the experimental high seas trip made by the Anna C last year.

The Anna C was encouraged by Government to experiment with longline fishing, and was backed by a British firm.

It came under fire from local fishermen who believed their fishing stocks were being "stolen''.

The experiment was also criticised as a financial disaster. PHOTO Mr. John Barnes.