MANAGEMENT OF THE VESSELS. *> 143 



When the mainmast is broken or carried away, if broken close to the deck, it is difScult to set 

 any after-sail unless a jnry-mast is rigged. This may be done by lashing the main boom or some 

 other spar to the stump of the mainmast and attaching the halyards tb its top, in such a manner 

 that either a reefed mainsait or riding-sail may be set on it. When, however, the mainmast is 

 broken higher up, it frequently becomes possible, by shortening the shrouds and putting on a 

 "preventer spring-stay," to set a reefed mainsail, or, more commonly, a riding-sail, which, together 

 with the jib and foresail, generally enables the vessel to make fair headway, even against a head 

 wind. Vessels rigged in this manner have often made passages of 600 to 800 miles in a reasonably 

 short time. 



When the bowsprit is carried away or broken, either by a sea or by carrying sail, the jib-stay 

 is usually taken in through the "hawse-pipe" and hove taut on the windlass, in such a manner 

 that the jib with the bonnet out may be set on it, and thus the vessel can make steerage way on 

 the wind by having the mainsail reefed ; but when running free, may be' able to carry the whole 

 mainsail. 



Vessels are sometimes so unfortunate as to lose all their spars. It then becomes necessary 

 that jury-masts should be improvised, in order that the vessel may reach port without assistance. 

 There are many ways of doing this, as well as performing the other operations we have mentioned, 

 which can only be determined by the surrounding circumstances. The most general method is to 

 lash some light spar, boom, or gaff, or perhaps even the jib sheet traveler, to the stump of the 

 mast, having the halyard-blocks attached to the topmost end, whereby the sails may be hoisted ; 

 fishing vessels rigged in this manner have often arrived safely in port without assistance. 



Eepaieing damages in the eigging. — Fishing vessels, in common with all other sea-going 

 vessels, are very liable to have their rigging broken or otherwise damaged while at sea, in such a 

 manner that it is of the utmost importance that it should be repaired promptly, both to insure the 

 safety of the vessel and the prosecution' of the voyage. As vessels are now rigged, however, one 

 of the accidents of this kind to which they are most liable is that of having the iron work, by which 

 the rigging is attached, broken rather than the rigging itself. On fishing vessels this more fre- 

 quently occurs to the iron- work connected with the bobstay and jib-stay than to that of any other, 

 since upon this is brought to bear a very heavy strain. These accidents are more likely to occur 

 - during gales when there is a heavy sea running than at any other time, and generally call for a 

 display of skill and seamanship such as is rarely needed elsewhere. Usually, when the iron-work 

 on the stem to which the jib-stay sets up is carried away, the end of the stay is taken in through 

 one of the hawse-pipes and set up by tackles to the windlass and secured in a proper manner. It 

 is quite often the case that the iron work at the end of the bowsprit to which the bobstay is- 

 attached is broken, and it sometimes becomes necessary to replace this and to set the bobstay up 

 anew, even under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. Fishing schooners are occa- 

 sionally liable to have their spring-stays unhooked, or the bolts in the shackles get loose, in such 

 a manner that the mainmast is left without that support. If this occurs when the vessel is under 

 sail it can be usually replaced without a great deal of trouble by running the vessel before the 

 wind, so that the mainsail may assist to keep the mainmast straight. 



If lying at anchor, however, or under some other circumstances, it is generally necessary to 

 get a strap on the mainmast, to which a purchase from the foremast is hooked and the head of the 

 mainmast hauled forward far enough to enable the men to attach the spring-stay in its proper 

 position. The performance of this duty is usually one requiring a great amount of skill and judg- 

 ment to successfully accomplish it. 



The parting of shrouds, laniards, &c., are accidents to which all vessels are liable, and the 



