riuminc rater. A rcfricorator ia a nccecsity ontree7.er veoacls 

 as tne noid temperatures are too low to pcri:dt tlio stouago of many 

 Itcns sucn as I'resli vocotablec, eggs, and other perishables. 



The deck layout of some vessels disregards safety during 

 the fishing operation. The long deckhouse, with the pilot house for- 

 ijara prohibits adequate coimiiunicatlonG bstTJoen the pilot house and the 

 iJinch aft. Electronic public-address cystcis xiliich miy bo found now 

 and tlicn are not aixjays in operating condition. The exhausts from tne 

 engines are dry xiith a niininium of muffling, adding to cor.uaunication 

 difficulties. The fact that communication bctueen fore and aft, except 

 by snouting, is often impossible coupled with the factHiat only open 

 winches are used on the vessels, creates a dangoTouo situation ^jhich 

 raaices th3 layout of the Florida -tjrpo vessel unsafe and impractical. 



Hull iriintonance 



Rapid hull depreciation, in addition to basic xjeaknesses 

 in vessel design and construction, can be traced also in many inabances 

 to improper and inadequate maintenance practices. 



To protect the hull against deterioration, measures mu3t ba 

 taken against tha two principal encjnies of wooden construction e:<po3ed 

 to 3oa xjater, i.e. ehipxrorm (Teredo) and dry rot, Shipijoriu penetration 

 can bo retarded by the use of good'coppcr paints Tjhcn pi'opcrly applied. 

 The keol and the Ghoo should bo separated for this purpose by two layers 

 of good quality asphalt paper. 



Diy rot can be controlled through the use of cIiromatQ paints. 

 This treatment, if carefully applied, ijill extend tho life of tho sliriiiip 

 vessel considerably. 



Many vessels are put into drydock at intervals of six to 

 elgttt i-a)nthG instead of the reconLacnded thi-ee or four months. Soraotimos 

 th3 application of copper paint is neglected. 



Thi> maintenance problem is increased by the shortage of con- 

 scientious crci/a. Th3 standard of matntomace of tlio vessels ovned by 

 intiiipondont owu&r-ijklppcrs and sijall fisliing companios, fui-thernoro, 

 is influoncod by the size of the shriirip catch and the price range dua'lng 

 th3 year. Dui'lng the 1953-5U i.nrket decline, for instiaaco, hauling of 

 shriiup vecisots and Ecncrol r-Liintonance vaa noticeably reduced. Con- 

 struction prauticos appear to have a definite boaring on the amount of 

 r...iintonanoe iroik reqalrod during tho life of a vessel. Most owners 

 inteiviewed r."i>orlad tliat woll-constructod vessels ivoquirod loss i.iain- 

 tijnnnca tl.\n pooi-ly built vessels, particularly after the first season 

 or so of fishing. 



Vessel Accidents 



Sins of omission and coivaiiission in the construction and 

 maintcnanco of vessels are reflected not only in the rapid depreciation 

 of thoi fi:cod invostiiicut but alijo, to a rolativuly higli dogi-ee, in the 



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