B. -MANAGEMENT OP THE VESSELS. 



By Joseph W. Collins. 



52. EVOLUTIONS OF THE FISHING SCHOONEE.* 



There are numerous evolutions to be performed in conforming the movements of the vessel 

 to the changes of the wind ; also, in changing her course, and in making those maneuvers incidental 

 to fishing which are peculiar to the New England fishermen, whose methods of seamanship are in 

 many respects very different from those elsewhere in use. 



These evolutions may be discussed under the following heads: (1) tacking, or coming about; 

 (2) jibing, or wearing ; (3) boxhauling, or hauling around ; (4) shooting to ; (5) heaving to, or 

 lying to; (6) bringing a vessel to an anchor; (7) bringing a vessel to a drag; (8) getting under 

 way; (9) breaking out anchor under sail; (10) shooting alongside of a seine-boat; (11) shooting 

 alongside of a dory ; (12) shooting alongside of a wharf; (13) lee-bowing another vessel ; (14) run- 

 ning a vessel upon a lee shore ; (15) jumping a vessel off a ledge on a lee shore. 



TACKING, OK COMING ABOUT. 



The act of tacking a fishing vessel is precisely the same as with any other fore and aft rigged 

 vessel. This is done by putting down the helm .and making fast the jib-sheet to leeward, so that, 

 as the vessel comes to the wind, the jib will take aback and cause her to fall off in the opposite 

 direction. To tack an ordinary fishing schooner takes from forty to eighty seconds, the time 

 varying with the strength of the wind, the force of the waves, and the peculiarities of the vessel. 

 The only danger in this evolution is that of "missing stays" when the vessel is in a dangerous 

 place on a lee shore or in a narrow channel. Fishing vessels very rarely miss stays. The orders 

 for tacking are: (i) Stand by for stays; (ii) Tend the jibs (this means to put the "tail-rope" on the 

 jib-sheets, and if the vessel carries a flying-jib, to slacken the lee sheet and stand by to trim down 

 on the other sheet as the vessel comes around); and (iii) Let her come round; to which the man 

 at the wheel answers : Mard-a-lee, as he puts his helm down. 



JIBING, OR WEARING. 



This evolution on a fishing schooner is the same in principle, as on other sailing vessels. 

 It is precisely the opposite of tacking, the direction of the vessel being changed while running 

 before the wind, so that the stern rather than the bow crosses its direction. With a moderate 

 wind the act of jibing occupies but a few seconds, but when the wind is strong and the sheets 

 must be hauled in and gradually slackened out on the opposite-fiide, it may take from t«n lo twenty 

 minutes. The orders for jibing are as follows : (a) With light winds, (i) Put the wheel up and let her 

 jibe over (to the man at the wheel). As the direction of the vessel is changed the wind catches the 

 sails aback, and of their own accord they pass over to the other side of the vessel.t The flying- 

 jib sheets are properly adjusted in obedience to the order, (ii) Draw away the flying-jib. (b) With 

 stronger winds. When running before the wind with a fresh breeze a schooner usually has a boom- 



* This chapter, as well as that which follows, might very properly he included in the description of the fishing 

 schooner, hut as it illustrates the duties of the fishermen under certain conditions, we have thought it proper to 

 publish it in this place. 



t This is called "jibing all standing," or "North River jibe," and is common on the Hudson River, 

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