[105] U. S. FISH COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 107 



as the trawl heaves in sight, losing the entire contents or the trawl it- 

 self, as the case may be. 



Supposing everything to have worked satisfactorily and the trawl 

 been dragging half an hour, the order is given to get ready for heaving. 

 The hoisting engine is moved to work the water out of the cylinders, 

 and the moving parts are oiled. The reeling engine is likewise put in 

 readiness, the guide connected, and the governor brought into action. 

 Everything being ready the order is given to heave away, and the rope 

 reeled in at the rate of 25 fathoms per minute, the vessel being allowed 

 to retain her headway until the trawl is known to be well clear of the 

 bottom. 



This is done for the double purpose of avoiding the danger of the trawl 

 settling in the mud if allowed to remain stationary for any length of time, 

 aud to prevent fish or other specimens which have not already found 

 their way to the pocket from floating or swimming out of the mouth of 

 the trawl. 



The speed at which it is hove up is varied according to circumstances, 

 not exceeding 30 fathoms per minute under the most favorable condi 

 tions when the specimens are from a greater depth than 500 fathoms; 

 although in shoal water a speed of 35 fathoms per minute is at times 

 admissible. The machinist at the hoisting engine reports each 100 

 fathoms as in veering out, and the record keeper notes it in his book. 



After the trawl is off tbe bottom aud the engine stopped, the dredge 

 rope will sometimes draw under the bottom, even though the vessel has 

 her starboard broadside to the wind and is drifting rapidly. In this 

 case we would back the starboard engine, go ahead on the port, and 

 put the helm hard a-port, which would soon clear it. This trouble usu- 

 ally occurs in reeling in after the trawl has been laid out, steaming 

 head to wind or backing stern to it, and the vessel has been allowed to 

 fall off with the dredge rope to windward, a position which at first sight 

 seems to be the proper one. Such is not the case, however, for the 

 vessel is lying at right angles to her former course, and consequently 

 with the rope trending under her bottom. If it is reeled in faster than 

 the vessel is drifting, it will be drawn still more closely under the keel. 



If the trawl has been laid out against the wind, heave to with the dredge 

 rope to leeward, when the drift will assist the operation of reeling in. 

 It should be borne in mind, however, that the vessel must be turned 

 with the dredge rope to windward by backing the starboard and going 

 ahead on the port engine before it draws under the bottom, which it 

 will do as soon as the vessel has drifted over the position of the trawl. 



When the trawl is up, the boom is rigged in until the bag swings 

 against the ship's side, when a strap is passed arouud it and it is hoisted 

 on board by means of a stay tackle. If the load is very heavy, the 

 afterboom guy is used to help to get it over the rail, the lower block 

 being hooked usually to the eye iu the end of the bridle. 



The mud bag is removed first, then the lashings taken off, aud the 



