380 



DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



use at Dingle, so far as we can learn, for about twenty- 

 five years, but are of longer standing on the coast 

 between Dingle and the Clare side of Galway Bay. 



'' CURRAGH,'' OR CaNVAS CaNOE. 



The construction of these curraghs is very simple, con- 

 sisting of a light frame for the top sides, strengthened 

 by a keelson curved slightly upwards at each end so as 

 to form what may be called the stem and stern-post, 

 which are fitted to the lower part of the frame. The 

 ribs are simply pieces of cask-hoop cut to such a length 

 as to give the requisite curve to the bottom, and outside 

 these are nailed long narrow battens to serve as floor- 

 ing. Such is the skeleton of the curragh ; and as a 

 substitute for planking, the whole outer surface is 

 covered with tarred canvas nailed on in j^ieces about a 

 couple of feet wide, and extending from one gunwale 

 round to the other. Thwarts are then fixed in the 

 usual manner. The general length of these canoes is 

 about 20 feet, with a breadth of nearly 4 feet. Four 

 men form the crew of one of these frail craft, each 

 man having a pair of small light oars with very narrow 

 blades, working on single thole-pins, whicli in each case 

 passes through a small triangular piece of wood nailed 

 to the oar at a proper distance from the handle. A 



