390 Proceedmgs of the Royal Fhysical Society. 



Accordingly on the 21st June I embarked on board the 

 " Energy," taking with me the necessary collecting appara- 

 tus, consisting of dredge and all the dredging appliances, 

 sounding rod and line, towing nets, microscope, with re- 

 agents, surface and deep-sea thermometers, also hatching 

 boxes for developing the herring ova if an opportunity should 

 show itself. 



The Company's vessels are fitted out on the Dutch plan, 

 for curing herring and other fish at sea, with the addition of 

 steam-power for working the nets. 



The "Energy" is a smack-rigged vessel, carrying two 

 masts, main and mizzen, the mainmast being fitted so as to 

 be lowered at sea to ease the weight of the vessel when 

 ridinj? at the nets or lines. She was also furnished with a 

 patent steam capstan, which greatly facilitated the bawling 

 in of the herring nets or long lines. The size of the vessel 

 will be understood from the following dimensions : — Length 

 of keel, 74 feet; breadth of beam, 20 feet; depth of hold, 10 feet; 

 registered tonnage 76, and an average carrying capacity of 

 about 120 tons. Appliances for curing were fitted on board, 

 consisting of large troughs 2 feet deep, on either side of the 

 deck, fore and aft, with tubs and trays for gutting, etc., also 

 a full complement of nets, buoys, hand and long lines, and 

 the requisite quantity of salt and barrels. 



In addition to the provision for curing on board, there 

 were also arrangements for " rousing " or salting in bulk, 

 when the takes of herring should be so large as to prevent 

 the curing being overtaken within twenty-four hours, the 

 time allowed by the Fishery Board Eegulations for curing 

 herring, cod, ling, and other white fish. 



The captain, John J. Tulloch, a Shetlander, well acquainted 

 with the ISTorth Sea, and especially the Shetland Islands, with 

 a crew of five men, one cooper, and four apprentices, eleven 

 in all, constituted the ship's company. 



The " Energy," after clearing May Island and the Firth of 

 Forth, took a north-easterly course along the Kincardine 

 and Aberdeen coasts. 



By 12 noon on the 22d we were becalmed 6 miles off the 

 mouth of the river Tay, so that I was able to work the sur- 



