204 -WJIALE FISHERY. 



sary, for the preservation of his health, as well as 

 his comfort, that he should be sheltered from the 

 piercing gale *. A piece of canvas tied round the 

 licad of the main-top-mast, and heel of the top-gal- 

 lant-mast, extending only from the cap to the cross 

 trees, or at best a canvas stretched round the base 

 of the top-gallant rigging, but open on the after part, 

 was the most complete contrivance of a crow's nest, 

 until a few years ago, when my Father invented an 

 apparatus, having the appearance of a rostrum, 

 which afforded an admirable defence against the 

 wind. This contrivance, from the comfortable shel- 

 ter it affords to the navigator, having come into 

 very general use, it may not be improper to describe 

 it more particularly. The one most approved by 

 the inventor is about 4^ feet in length, and 2}^ in 

 diameter. The form is cylindrical ; open above and 

 close below. It is composed of laths of wood placed 

 in a perpendicular position round the exterior edge 

 of a strong wooden hoop, forming the top, and 

 round a plane of mahogany, or other wood, which 

 forms the bottom ; and the whole circumference of 

 the cylinder is covered with canvas or leather. 

 The entrance is by a trap-hatch at the bottom. It 

 is fixed on the very summit of the main-top-gailant- 



* I have myself been pe\'en hours at the iiiast head;, without 

 once desccndmg; and have many tmies spent 10 or 1^ hours 

 •f a dav in the crow's nest. 



