CHANGES IN TRAWLING VESSELS. 65 



from the hold by the aid of a small windlass. Moreover, in one 

 the engine-room has an entrance from the galley as well as 

 from the side, a convenience in stormy weather. A feature in 

 contrasting the ships at Granton and Leith with those at 

 Aberdeen is the small elevation of the engine-room above deck 

 in the former. 



In some ships the shrouds from the mizzen-mast are 

 fastened to the deck about a yard from the bulwarks, so as to 

 leave a clear space for working the trawl. In the larger ships, 

 however, this is not necessary, the space in rear of the shrouds 

 being sufficient for the trawl, or shrouds are altogether dis- 

 pensed with, as in the Montrose paddle-ships, which have only 

 a foremast. 



The galley for the cook is in many under the bridge in 

 front of engine-room, or in some in the forecastle peak ; but in 

 the Montrose paddle-ships it, with the water-tank, is at the 

 side near the paddle. These, also, have two tow-rails, one in 

 front of the cabin for the crew, and one behind the cabin for 

 the captain (aft), as the vessels are used for towing. A hand- 

 windlass for raising the anchor is also present. 



The average length of the trawl-beam in the best ships ^ is 

 54 feet, it being found that a longer beam does not work so 

 satisfactorily or catch so many fishes. At Montrose the beam 

 is 52 feet. As before, it is composed of two or three pieces of 

 oak or French elm, though occasionally it is in a single piece, 

 and has a diameter varying from 10 inches to a foot. The 

 shape of the iron trawl- head is scarcely altered, the posterior 

 iron plate in a few being somewhat more abrupt than in 1884, 

 thus conforming to the English type of trawl. The height of 

 the beam from the ground varies from 3 feet 8 inches to about 

 4 feet. The 'Athole,' one of the General Steam Fishing 

 Company's ships, was in 1894 provided with an 'otter' trawl^ 

 with large wooden ends about 12 feet long by 5 feet broad, 

 which take the place of the ' hammer ' of the pole- trawl 

 described by the Commissioners of 1863 ^ and which are simply 



1 In 1894. 



2 The invention of Mr Scott. 



^ Report, Sea Fisheries of the United Kingdom, voL i., Appendix, p. 3. 



M. R. 5 



