[55] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 145 



near the gunwale. At present, however, an improvement has been 

 made in placing the purse-davit by stepping it in the thwart nearer 

 to the center of the boat, it being placed at a distance of 18 inches 

 to 2 feet from the gunwale. It is said that by this improvement the 

 seine can be more easily pursed up and the pursings taken over the 

 gunwale of the boat without the use of a pry or lever, and also that 

 there is less probability of the boat being capsized. The boats of the 

 most recent construction have their purse-blocks on the port side, 

 nearer the bow and stern than formerly, the forward being 2 feet aft of 

 the stem, and the after one close to the upper stern sheet, about 3J feet 

 from the stern-post. Galvanized iron plates, each provided with a pro- 

 jecting eye, are neatly fastened to the gunwale, and the snatch-blocks 

 are hooked into these eyes. 



Until recently it has been customary to build these boats with a raised 

 garboard, in imitation of the whale-boat (whale-boats are constructed in 

 this way by some builders), but within the present year, during 1881, 

 Messrs. Higgins & Giflford, before mentioned, and the principal if not the 

 only constructors of this style of boat in the United States, have built 

 them with smooth garboards, which have given better satisfaction than 

 the old style. They are remarkably well adapted for swift rowing and for 

 towing. Both of these qualities are very desirable, especially the latter, 

 since they are frequently towed at a rate of 10 or 12 knots. The thwarts 

 are double-kneed but not dunnaged. The boat is steered with an oar 

 similar to the whale-boat. On the port side are two oar rests in which 

 the oars are placed after the seine has been shot. The after one of 

 these is just forward of amidships, and the two are separated 8 feet. 



The seine-boat is usually towed astern by a warp, a 2^ or 3-inch r^pe, 

 20 to 50 fathoms in length. When the vessel is making a long passage 

 the seine-boat is hoisted upon the deck. Some of the larger vessels 

 carry two seine-boats and two seines. In the largest schooners these 

 boats are both of a large size ; in other vessels, one of them is usually a 

 small one. In addition to the seine-boats, each vessel carries two dories. 

 One of these is usually towed astern when the vessel is on the fishing 

 grounds ; sometimes both. They are taken on deck in rough weather, 

 when making a passage, or when not required for use in fishing.* When 



* The following is the price-list of Messrs. Higgins & Gifford, of Gloucester, Mass., 

 for 1880 : 



Seine-hoats, including pump, iron breast hook, outside tow iron, and iron stem cap. 



Smooth bottom, battened seam, 31 feet ^186 00 



Smooth bottom, battened seam, 32 feet 192 00 



Smooth bottom, battened seam, 33 feet 200 00 



Smooth bottom, battened seam, 34 feet 210 00 



Smooth bottom, battened seam, 36 feet 225 OO 



Galvanized rowlocks, with brass sockets, per set (8) » 6 50 



Pursing gear 8 50 



Patent steering rowlock with socket 1 5J5 



Pursing blocks, per pair 6 00 



Towing iron and pin .... 8 00 



S. Mis. 110 10 



