244 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



These rods are strong enough to bear the weight of the boat and its necessary apparatus when 

 suspended. The irons now in use are technically termed " long irons," in contradistinction to 

 those formerly used, which were called " short irons." The boats may be hoisted and lowered, as 

 it is termed, "loggerhead and clumsy cleat," or "by the ends." This depends upon the positions 

 of the hoisting straps in the boats, and it very materially affects the distances between the davits.* 



During an ordinary gale the cranes may be fleeted np,t aud the boats " davy-headed." During 

 a heavy gale the lee boats may be turned up ou their sides, especially if the davits are short, by 

 means of tackles from aloft, and lashed with their gunwales resting on the cranes, to prevent them 

 from filling with water when a heavy sea comes aboard, or they may be turned up on both sides 

 of the ship when running before a gale. 



The cranes (c o) have the form of a right-angle triangle, and are made of pieces of oak from 

 3 to 4 inches square ; the cross-piece, upon which the keel of the boat rests, is about 3 feet long. 

 The upright piece at the back is fastened to the bearer with pintles and eye-bolts. This triangular 

 contrivance swings freely to either side. When the boats are hoisted, the cranes, two to each boat, 

 are swung under and held in position by iron braces (ft h). In some cases the top pieces of the 

 cranes have cleats with notches, or "jogs," from 1 to 1J inches deep, covered with mats for the 

 keel to rest in, while in others cleats are dispensed with and mats only are used. 



Slide-boards (b b) are bent over the channels (u) to prevent the boat from fouling when hoisted 

 and lowered. The lower ends of these boards are bolted to the ship, and the upper ends usually 

 to the bottom of upright tapering pieces of timber called " bearers." 



When the boats are in position on the cranes the heavy line-tubs are removed and placed 

 upon wooden gratings, which are made fast to the bearers and the stanchions of the after-house, 

 to relieve the bottoms of the boat from unnecessary weight. The grating is triced up when the 

 boat is hoisted, and then lowered and fastened with two laniards. Sometimes, however, the tubs 

 are transferred to the after-deck house and lashed. 



To prevent the boats from chafing when the vessel pitches, they are held by the head with 

 gig-tackle, and to prevent them from chafing when she rolls, they are lashed with gripes. The 

 former consists of a double and single block connected by a 9-thread manila rope. The long 

 strap, made fast to the double block, has a crupper-like arrangement at the forward end, covered 

 with leather, which fits over the bow-chocks of the boat. The short strap, made fast to the single 

 block at the after-end, has a small hook, which, when in use, should be inserted in an eye attached 

 to the bearer. The tackle being adjusted, the falls are hauled taut. A reference to the illustration 

 will better explain this contrivance. The bearer is represented by b / the crupper or loop of for- 

 ward strap, hitched to the port bow-chock, by c, and the falls fastened to the cleat <?, by a. Some 

 of the gig-tackles are plain and commonplace enough, while others are made with extraordinary 

 care and taste, and are quite attractive in appearance. The boat-steerers make them usually on 

 board ship, and formerly they took great pride in this work. The blocks and sheaves were often- 



*The forward iron strap was formerly inserted in the eyes of tlio bout, and rutt'rd to the stem; the after one 

 pierced the stern about 4 laches from the head of the stern post and w;is rutlVd to tlio too of this post. This arrange- 

 ment rendered it imperative that th<> bouts should be hoisted " by the ends " or "stem and stern/' But on account 

 of the heavy strain brought to bear upon them, the mechanical and philosophical principle of which is obvious to the 

 reader, it became necessary that the hoisting tackles should be brought closer together ; consequently, some builders 

 shortened the distance between the irons by running them through the clumsy cleat and cuddy board respectively, aud 

 boats were hoisted "clumsy cleat and loggerhead." Other bnildrrs, however, instead of the removing the first- 

 named set, placed the additional set in the parts of the boat I have just named. By this arrangement boats of this 

 construction may be adapted to any davits, which are not always placed at regular intervals from each other. 



tTwo o* three gudgeons are inserted in each bearer, and the cranes may bo raised in this manner. 



