386 THE SEA FISHERIES OF IRELAND. 



They have also been found convenient for the study of the movements and 

 habits of the salmonidae in salt water. 



In regard to both mackerel and salmonidae, observations have been made 

 continuously, while the hardly less important study of the general fauna 

 has been by no means neglected. 



The equipment of the Fisheries Branch of the Department for scientific 

 research is efficiently completed by the steam cruiser Helga, a twin-screw 

 steamer of 375 tons. She is a boat of excellent sea-going qualities, and 

 capable of maintaining a high rate of speed, while her low free board 

 renders her most suitable for fishing operations. 



For her duties in patroUing the waters closed to trawling, and in generally 

 enforcing the provisions of bye-laws relating to sea fisheries, she has special 

 fittings, with which we are not here concerned. 



For the purposes of scientific investigation of the fishing grounds, she is 

 completely equipped as a trawler, carrying a number of trawls of different 

 patterns, the largest having a beam of forty-one feet. Her winch has two 

 barrels, one holding a stout warp for trawling at moderate depths, the 

 other being occupied by a fine warp for use with lighter gear at great 

 depths. She is also provided with dredges and tow-nets, including self- 

 closing nets for use at different depths, a deep-sea sounding apparatus, and 

 all necessary instruments for physical and microscopical observation. 



