[53] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 143 



ity also is obtained by the sharp bow ; the whale-boat also shouhl row 

 well, but iu this case it has been found desirable to sacritice speed in 

 part to the additional safety attained by having the stern sharper than 

 the bow. (3) It should be stiff or steady in the wnter, since the o[)er- 

 ation of shooting- the seine necessitates much moving about in the boat. 



The Gloucester seine-boat of the present day is a modihcation of the 

 old-fashioned whale-boat, combining the qualities mentioned above. 

 The average length of such a boat is nbout o-i leet, its width 7 feet 5 

 inches, its depth amidshi}) 33 inches. At the stern is a platlbrm, meas- 

 uring about 4 feet, fore and aft, on which the captain ?;lands to steer; 

 this is G to 8 inches below the gunwale. Another i)l;itibrm extends the 

 whole length of the boat's bottom, from the afterpart of wliich the seine 

 is set. In the bow is still another platform, on which stands the man 

 who hauls the cork-line. There are four thwarts or seats, a large space 

 being left clear beliind the middle of the boat for the storage of the 

 seines. Upon the starboard side of the boat, near the middle, is ar- 

 ranged an upright iron support, about 18 inches in height, to which are 

 attached two iron snatch-blocks used in working the purse-ropes.* 

 Upon the opposite side of the boat, generally near the bow and stern, 

 l)ut with i)osition varied according to the fancies of the fishermen, are 

 tised iu the gunwale two staples, to which are attached other snatch- 

 blocks used to secure additional i)urchase upon the purse-ropes. In 

 the center of the jilatform at the stern of the boat is placed a large 

 wooden pump, used to draw out the water which ac<;umulates iu large 

 quantities during the hauling of the seine. The steering rowlocks, 

 with the peculiar attachment for the tow-rope and the metallic fixtures 

 described above, are manufactured especially for seine-boats by Messrs. 

 Wilcox & Crittenden, Middletown, Conn. 



Until 187L* the seine-boats were always built in the lap-streak style; 

 since that time an improved form of smooth-bottomed boats, built with 

 battened searn, set-work, sheathed inside with pine, and with oak frame 

 and pine platform, has been growing in popularity. The advantages 

 claimed for this boat by the builders are: (1) increased speed; (2) 

 greater durability, on account of the more solid character of the wood- 

 work and tighter seams ; and, (3) less liability to catch the twine of the 

 nets by reason of the smooth sides. It is not so stiff as a lap streaked 

 boat of same width, but in other respects superior. 



Since the general adoption of the purs(^seine, in the uu'idiaden and 

 mackerel fisheries, an account of which is given elsewhere, there has 



*The lirst iron purse-davit (with wooden .sn;itch-l)locks), according to Captain 

 Merchant, was invented and nseil by Capt. Hi-nry ]?!atcli(ord, in 18r>8. With the 

 exception of the bloclcs, it was essentially the same as the purse-davit in use at the 

 present time. Previous to this a wooden davit (usually an old one), suc-h as were in 

 use on the fishing-vessels, was employed for the pnri)ose of pursing up the seine. 

 These davits were rigged out over the side of the l>oat, a place being cut in them 

 three or four inches deep, so that thej' might lit over the gunwale of the boat in such 

 a manner as to steady the outer era! while the inner end was secured to the midship 

 thwart by n grommet strap. 



