320 REMARKS ON TRAWLING. 
The General Steam Company’s ships at Granton (nine in number) 
have not varied in regard to the single trawl-beam, but they carry 
a second net. Consequently the large snatch-block and rollers occur 
on the port-side only. As before, the net is attached to the trawl- 
beam by grummet-lashings or by cord. ‘The other parts, comprising 
the dandy and bridles (each about 25 fathoms) and the chain for 
the former do not differ materially from previous descriptions. The 
steel-wire rope is about the same length, viz. 200 to 240 fathoms, 
and lasts about ten months, The aluminium trawl-warp does not 
seem to have met with favour in Scotland. In some ships it is not, 
as formerly, left on deck after the check of wire-rope is fixed to 
the mizzen-mast, but carried outside the bulwarks, so as to avoid 
accident to the men. ‘Those which, like the Montrose ships, use a 
Manilla rope (generally. about 180 fathoms), require a new one 
every six months, the old one being utilised in preparmg ground- 
ropes. 
The shooting of the trawl is carried out in a similar manner to 
that of 1884, only there are no trawl-davits at the taffrail in the 
best Aberdeen ships; and, instead of the snatch-block then in 
general use, more convenient ‘ dandy ”’ scores (snatch or tumbling 
blocks), of which Sudron’s or Scisson’s patent are the best. At 
Granton and Montrose the trawl-davits are still in use, with snatch- 
blocks on deck. The lid of the block is opened during trawling. 
The trawl-warp leaves the drum, passes round a capstan, and out 
through rollers, either on the port or starboard-side, according to 
the trawl in use. Blocks on the mizzen-mast are still employed to 
hoist the stern-end of the trawl, and the foremast has a derrick. 
In “shooting” the trawl the ship goes at full speed. When the 
“cod”’-end of the trawl is unshipped, the mate at the same time 
orders the fore-trawl-beam lashings to be freed, and when the beam 
is at right angles to the ship the “‘ stopper ’-rope is let go, and the 
order ‘‘ ware forward ”’ then sends off the trawl-warp from the drum. 
A better arrangement now exists for assisting in unshipping the 
heavy trawl-heads, for these rest on a stout wooden platform about 
18 inches high, and thus are easily swung over the rail; and, 
besides, the deck is saved from injury. In one or two ships at 
Granton larger platforms for the fore-end of the trawl have been 
fitted. In a new vessel, indeed, a square of plate-iron has been put 
on the deck at the point most injured by the trawl-head. In rough 
weather a chain fastens the trawl-head to the nearest iron stanchion 
at the bulwarks, and is used in bringing the front trawl-head on 
board. In the same way an additional chain at the stern-end is 
sometimes useful. In the Montrose paddle-ships the wheels for 
winding the trawl-warp (a Manilla rope) are below, and only the 
