Gf)2 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [18] 



BLOCKS, ETC. 



Many important improvements have been made in blocks, whereby- 

 greater power and compactness are obtained. The most noticeable of 

 these improvements is the substitution of galvanized iron for the old- 

 fashioned rope strap, the invention of patent roller bushings, and the 

 attachment of buffers of various patterns for relieving the strain when 

 jibing, &c. < 



HOOPS AND HANKS. 



Various devices have been invented for the improvement of hoops 

 and hanks, but, in rather remarkable contrast to the advance made in 

 other directions, few, if any, of these seem to be of special practical 

 importance. As a matter of fact, the plain oak hoops and hanks that 

 were in use many years ago are used to-day on fishing vessels. The 

 only exceptions to this are that galvanized-iron hoops are used on the 

 masts of small boats to some extent, and iron hanks are, of course, at- 

 tached to sails set on wire stays. 



One of the best improvements, so far as fishing vessels are concerned, 

 has been made in devising a riding sail hoop which can be easily and 

 quickly attached to or detached from a sail, and the use of which obvi- 

 ates the necessity that formerly existed for using rope hoops, lacings, &c. 



HOOKS, CLEWS, ETC. 



In the construction and equipment of fishing vessels, the manufact- 

 ure of their sails, &c, the most approved forms of apparatus are used. 

 In such things as hooks, clews, thimbles, grommets, chocks, boat-hooks, 

 leaders, purrels, cleats, belaying-pins, anchors, and the various other 

 materials which enter into the construction or outfit of fishing vessels 

 or boats, more or less important improvements have been made — one 

 of which is, in many cases, the substitution of galvanized for black 

 iron, the general result of which has been an increase in the strength 

 and efficiency of our fishing craft. Though many of these improve- 

 ments are of special interest and more of them deserve mention, it is 

 not possible, owing to the great variety of these objects and the lack 

 of space, to speak of them in detail. Nothing more can be done here 

 than to simply call attention to the fact that in the class of objects al- 

 luded to such perfection has been attained as to materially aid in mak- 

 ing our fishing fleet specially well adapted for the work it has to do. 



DRAOS, OK FLOATING SEA ANCHORS. 



The practice of carrying drags or floating anchors is unfortunately 

 too much neglected on our fishing vessels. The object of this form of 

 apparatus is to prevent foundering of sea-going vessels when lying to 

 in heavy gales, especially when sails have been blown away, or when from 



