SMACKS AND TRAWLS 53 



^400. Simultaneously with the growth of the industry 

 was a change in the method of paying the smacksmen, 

 the tendency being to adopt a plan which would give 

 them shares in the catches proportionate to their positions 

 in the craft. The sum mentioned ^1600 included 

 a fit-out of all that was needed for fishing, which cost 

 70 or ;8o. This fit-out consisted of a double set of 

 almost every part of the gear, so that loss by accident 

 could be made good without returning to port. Ordinarily 

 a trawl-net would last from three to four months, but 

 parts of the net would have to be renewed during that 

 time, the under parts twice and the cod five or six times 

 before the net was finally condemned. 



Smacks derived their name from the smack or cutter 

 rig which in the early days of trawling was almost universal. 

 When the vessels increased to double the original size a 

 change of rig became desirable so that there should not 

 be an undue increase in the cost of working ; consequently 

 the size of the mainsail was reduced and a mizzen-mast 

 was added, with great success. This new method was 

 called " dandy " rig, and was generally adopted by the 

 North Sea trawlers. With larger vessels came greater 

 comfort and safety for the crews and the power to carry 

 considerable quantities of ice. 



The finest of the North Sea smacks were the most 

 splendid sea-boats in the world, and they were handled 

 with a skill and courage worthy of their beauty. The 

 old-time fisherman and owner pinned his faith to these 

 craft, and nothing would induce him to believe in steam. 

 Only a year or two ago there were sold five of the 

 smacks which helped to build the foundations of 

 Grimsby's success as a fishing port. They belonged to 



