Due to the lenj^th of the trips, the lay-over period of these 

 vessels is longer than in other fisheries. They stay in port for a 

 period of a week to ten days after a voyage of 30 to 60 days. During 

 this period repairs to the vessels are made by shore crews. Unless major 

 repairs are necessary, the vessel can be prepared for sea in one day» 

 The ship's crew, after a short vacation, returns to tlie vessel and performs 

 necessary repairs to the rigging. 



(5) Fueling is the main job in preparing a motor boat for 

 shrimping in inland waters. The two boats studied were both bait- 

 shrimping boats and carried no ice. Sufficient stores to prepare lunch 

 and a jug of water were the only provisions brought aboard. The opera- 

 tion of getting underway was as simple as talking a pleasure boat out 

 for an afternoon's sail. One boat fished out of Corpus Christi and was 

 owner- ope rated. She was fueled with $$ gallons of gasoline from a dock 

 next to her home berth. This was enough for a two-day operation. The 

 other boat, fishing out of Dunedin, Florida, was not owner-operated, but 

 was fueled at the owner's dock about 100 feet away from her berth. The 

 tank had a capacity of about 60 gallons and hX gallons was the average 

 consumption for a night's fishing. No set procedure for preparing these 

 boats could be ascertained as the work was done in accordance with the 

 custom of the individual operator. 



Procedure for Setting and Trawling 



VJhen in port, the outriggers are hoisted inboard. They are 

 lovjered during the outbound trip and remain rigged-out unless the vessel 

 is going alongside another boat. The doors are stowed on deck, lashed 

 to the rigging or bulwarks. 



Upon arrival at the fishing grounds, the net doors are swung 

 out to hang from the starboard outrigger by the towing cables, pre- 

 paratory to streaming the net and lowering the gear. As this operation 

 is being performed, the tickler chain, if not secured to the bottom of 

 the net, is lovjered over the side. The vessel is stopped during this 

 operation. After the doors are swung out and cleared, the vessel gets 

 underway at her best speed, either upvrind or doimwind. The net is then 

 streamed over the starboard quarter bulviark rail and towed until it is 

 clear. 



After the net has streamed clear, the vessel's way is main- 

 tained and the doors and nets are lowered to the proper depth. The 

 towing lines still lead from the blocks on the starboard outrigger. 



In order to permit the vessel to maneuver, the towing cables 

 must La secured on the centerline, at a point reasonably near the 

 vessel's turning center. In general practice, the toviing cables are 

 held together and doim by a chain and open hook secured to a deck pad. 

 They are then hoisted up in the air by the block and fall leading from 

 the end of the boom. During this operation, the helm is put over hard 



137 



