THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 107 



The next to be considered are the open boats, of which, there area 

 great many kinds, a few only of which, the more notable forms, can be 

 mentioned here. 



The sharp-stern fishing-boat is more universally used in the coast 

 fisheries than any other, and to show how widely these are distributed 

 along the coast it is only necessary to mention that the boats of Block 

 Island and No Man's Land, the " live-handed " boat of Cape Cod and 

 the coast of Maine, and the " quoddy " boat of Eastport, belong to this 

 class. 



One of the most peculiar fishing-boats on the coast is the cutter-rigged 

 sloop, used exclusively by the Irish fishermen of Boston. These are 

 said to resemble the fishing-boats of Ireland, and are generally called 

 "Dungarvan boats" by other fishermen. The length varies considera- 

 bly, the average being about 30 feet on top. They have a reasonably 

 sharp but rounding bow, square stern, with the rudder hung outside ; 

 are deep in proportion to their length, with a wide stem and deep keel. 

 They are said to be excellent sea-boats. The forward part is decked 

 over, thus forming a cuddy where the crew eat and sleep. There is a 

 cockpit aft, with a seat around it. The midship section is partially cov- 

 ered on each side. In the bottom of this is placed the ballast, on top 

 of which the fish, gear, &c, are stowed. The bowsprit is adjustable, 

 and two jibs are carried, one being set on a stay, the lower end of which 

 fastens to the stem. In other respects they do not differ materially in 

 rig from other sloops. In spring, summer, and fall these boats are em- 

 ployed in the dinner, haddock, and other fisheries for Boston market, 

 the catch being chiefly sold fresh. In autumn most of them engage in 

 the herring fishery with gill-nets at Cape Ann and other points in Mas- 

 sachusetts Bay. 



The dory, which is so well adapted to the deep-sea fisheries, and is 

 quite indispensable to our bank fishermen, originated during the latter 

 part of the last century in Salisbury, Mass. This boat was originally 

 designed for a lighter, and for many years was scarcely used for any 

 purpose besides that of removing the cargoes from vessels at Newbury - 

 port. It was, however, employed to some extent in the fisheries early in 

 the present century, and since the introduction of trawl fishing it has 

 come into general use. The thwarts arc adjustable, and, when these are 

 removed, several dories may be "nested" inside of each other, the 

 whole occupying the same space as one boat, and for this reason they 

 are much better adapted for stowage on the deck of a vessel than any 

 other style of boat. In addition to this, they are excellent boats in a 

 rough sea, are capacious, light to handle, and also cheap; therefore 

 it follows, as a matter of course, that they are extensiveby used in most 

 of the important fisheries, among which may especially be mentioned 

 the bank cod and halibut fishery and the mackerel fishery (each vessel 

 with a purse-seine usually carries two dories). Large numbers are also 

 employed on the haddock vessels, the shore fishing fleet, and in the boat 



