[53] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 



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

 well, but in this case it has been found desirable to sacrifice 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 water, since the oper- 

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



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

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

 The average length of such a boat is about 34 feet, its width 7 feet 5 

 inches, its depth amidship 33 inches. At the stern is a platform, meas- 

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

 this is 6 to 8 inches below the gunwale. Another platform extends the 

 whole length of the boat's bottom, from the afterpart of which 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 behind 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, 

 but with position varied according to the fancies of the fishermen, are 

 fixed in the gunwale two staples, to which are attached other snatch- 

 blocks used to secure additional purchase upon the purse-ropes. In 

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

 wooden pump, used to draw out the water which accumulates in 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 1872 the seine-boats were always built in the lap-streak style ; 

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

 battened seam, 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- 

 Avork 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 purse-seine, in the menhaden and 

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



^ * The iirst iron purse-davit (with wooden snatch-blocks), according to Captain 

 Merchant, was invented and used by Capt. Henry Blatchford, in 1858. With the 

 exception of the blocks, 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), such as were in 

 use on the fishing- vessels, was employed for the purpose of parsing up Ihe seine. 

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

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

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

 thwart by a grommet strap. 



