158 ANIMAL^RESOURCES AND FISHERIES OF UNITED STATES. 



Apparatus accessory to rigging fishing-vessels. 



Kowlocks. 



Wabbliiig of the oar is wholly avoided. If the oar is a properly good 

 fit, it will have less thaii inch of fore-and-aft motion in the lock. 



" Catching crabs" is largely avoided by preventing the oar from jam- 

 ming in the lock at the beginning or end of the stroke. If a "crab" 

 should be caught, the rowlock is not strained, and the oar can be recov- 

 ered without stopping the boat. 



A good grip of the water is assured to even the inexperienced oarsman 

 by the shape of the back of the rowlock, which corresponds to that of the 

 oar. The oar settles itself into the proper position on beginning the stroke. 



Any length of reach may be taken by long-built men in going forward, 

 avoiding an evil often complained of. 



A space half as wide admits passage of the boat. Equipped with this 

 rowlock a six or four oared shell passes through an opening the width of 

 the outriggers. Crews rowing on narrow or bridged water will find this 

 advantage worth the price of the rowlocks in a single season. 



Uniting the rods at a single point brings the whole strength of the out- 

 rigger into play at every part of the stroke, and an outrigger thus made 

 can hardly be demolished while the boat stands. 



Any oars may be used if of recent pattern, i. e. } without the unsightly 

 "bulge" on the loom. It is only necessary to make a slight change in 

 the button, as described below. 



Better time may be made. Experiments thus far indicate that the 

 socket-joint rowlock is perceptibly speedier than the common pattern, by 

 the stoppage of wabbling, and general smoothness of action. 



liaising a rowlock with the common outrigger is a half hour's trouble 

 with rusty nuts (one or two of which usually twist the bolt off in start- 

 ing) and experimenting to get the right thickness of washers. With the 

 socket-joint rowlock the same thing is done in two minutes by slipping 

 half or three-quarters of an inch of washers on the shaft under the top rod. 



Superior strength. The ordinary iron thole-pins are strong in one direc- 

 tion only ; a backward or side wise blow is likely to bend them. The 

 supporting shaft of the socket-joint rowlock is equally strong all around 

 and withstands a greater strain than the best oars made can apply to it. 

 The whole rowlock is made of the best bronze-metal, which will not rust 

 nor suddenly snap on a frosty morning. Under great mechanical pressure 

 the lower part of the lock has been bent out nearly straight without 

 breaking. 



Minor conveniences continually appear in the use of this improvement. 

 There is no wiring to do ; no reaching out-board to ship oars ; no wriggling 

 the button through the rowlock ; no getting grease on the oar-handle by- 

 passing through the rowlock ; no "losing the button" outside the out- 

 rigger; no jamming the button between the thole-pins. When the out- 

 riggers are taken off the boat the rods turn on the shaft as a hinge and 

 fold up into a compact bundle not easily bent out of shape nor injured. 

 The rowlocks can be detached entirely, if desired, and each set of rods 

 made into a package as easily carried as a walking-stick, while the row- 

 lock may be put into the oarsman's coat-pocket. Oarsmen having occa- 

 sion to travel with boats by rail will appreciate this convenience. 



This rowlock cannot pretend to be a cheap contrivance; it is made of 

 the best material, and requires expensive labor. Its first cost is moiv 

 than that of the common pattern, but considering its advantages it will 

 be found cheaper in the end." (F. A. Grower.) 



