IMPROVEMENT OF FISHING-BOATS. 271 



course of time would otherwise be lost, but that the boats would 

 often be able to remain at sea and safely continue their fishing 

 in threatening weather, instead of returning to the shore, at 

 great pecuniary loss to their crews, as is now too frequently the 

 case. 



Five of such boats were accordingly ordered three to be 

 built in Scotland, one at Yarmouth, and one by the builders to 

 the Institution in London. Two of the boats built in Scotland, 

 one at Peterhead and the other at Anstruther, have been tested 

 and are now at work, having already afforded the utmost satis- 

 faction to their crews, as will be seen from the following extracts 

 from letters received at the Institution. Captain A. Sim, Hon. 

 Sec. of the Lossiemouth Branch of the Institution, writing from 

 that place on March 18, states : ' The safety fishing-boat sailed 

 from Granton Harbour on Wednesday, the i3th inst, at 6 A.M., 

 and was here the following day at 5 P.M., after lying to for some 

 time off Peterhead, thus making the voyage in thirty-six-hours 

 no bad test of her sailing qualities. She has been very much 

 admired here by all the fishermen ; in fact, the seafaring 

 population are unanimous in their opinion that she is just the 

 thing for this coast, and I trust she may be the beginning of a 

 new era in decked boats.' 



Wm. Boyd, Esq., Hon. Sec. of the Peterhead Branch, also 

 writes on the same date : * You will be glad to hear that the 

 new safety fishing-boat gives very great satisfaction. John 

 Geddes, the life-boat coxswain, lay alongside the Lossiemouth 

 boat in the Frith of Forth, and declares that she is a fast sailer, 

 having accomplished the run from here to Granton in thirteen 

 hours. She works well and satisfactorily, but she had not ex- 

 perienced such bad weather as would thoroughly try her safety 

 powers.' 



The interior fittings of the boats have been so arranged as 

 not to interfere with their everyday work, yet so as to enable 

 them to be quickly made insubmergible. 



This object has been effected, as is clearly shown in the 

 eight diagrams and explanations prepared by the Society : ist. 

 By making the usual forecabin a water-tight compartment, the 

 access to it being by a water-tight hatch in the deck, instead 



