[15] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 659 



CORDAGE. 



As to the cordage used, the standing rigging is generally of hemp 

 and wire, though the latter is not so much in favor on fishing vessels as 

 on those engaged in other pursuits. Manila is universally used for 

 ruuuiug rigging, and very generally for cables to ride by on the fishing 

 banks. Thirty to fifty years ago hemp cables were generally carried, 

 but manila has almost, if not entirely, superseded hemp for this pur- 

 pose. Much care is taken to fit the rigging of the clipper schooners in 

 a neat and workmanlike manner, and in this respect they can compare 

 very favorably with the best rigged yachts. 



WINDLASSES. 



At the present day all of the first-class American fishing schooners 

 are provided with patent windlasses, of which there are several varie- 

 ties, which, however, usually work on the same general principle. The 

 New England fishermen were rather conservative about adopting this 

 improvement when it was first brought to their notice some forty years 

 ago. They feared that the iron work might break, and that they would 

 consequently meet with much difficulty in getting their anchor. The 

 story is told that the first Gloucester vessel to carry a patent windlass 

 to George's Bank was watched with much interest, and on the first fa- 

 vorable occasion the crews of other vessels went on board of her on the 

 bank to witness the working of the "new-fangled idea," and to satisfy 

 themselves as to its practical utility. The improved windlasses met with 

 great favor as soon as their usefulness was demonstrated, and all the 

 vessels were rapidly supplied with them. 



STEERERS. 



As previously stated, the fishing vessels during the first three or four 

 decades of the present century were steered almost exclusively with 

 tillers. At the present time few are steered in that way, more partic- 

 ularly of the larger class, some form of the many different varieties of 

 patent steering wheels being used. 



NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



A very marked change has taken place within the past forty years 

 in the matter of providing fishing vessels with a good supply of nau- 

 tical instruments. Formerly few vessels carried anything more than 

 the ordinary compasses and a chart of the locality over which they 

 were supposed to cruise. The majority were unprovided with quad- 

 rants, and dead reckoning was almost entirely depended on, while even 

 this was not assisted, as a rule, by any form of log, the fishermen esti- 

 mating the distance run simply by noting the motion of their vessel 

 through the water. Barometers were practically unknown. At the 



