II.— VESSELS AND BOATS EMPLOYED IN THE EISHEKIES 



OF THE GKEAT LAKES. 



By J. W. Collins. 



The vessels and boats employed in the fisheries of the Great Lakes 

 have certain peculiarities. In order therefore that their special char- 

 acteristics should be clearly understood the following notes and illus- 

 trations are presented, these having been extracted from an unpublished 

 report, prepared by the writer, on the fishing vessels of the United 



States. 



10. FISHING STEAMERS. 



At the present time there are employed in the fisheries of the Great 

 Lakes a considerable fleet of screw-steamers. These vary considerably 

 in size, form, and appearance. Generally, however, they resemble the 

 ordinary tug used for towing, aud are often spoken of as " fishing tugs." 

 Some of them are employed chiefly in carrying to market the catch of 

 the traps and pounds, and are usually referred to as " pound steamers;" 

 others fish with large gangs of gill-nets, and are denominated " gill-net 

 steamers." Occasionally they are used for towing like ordinary steam- 

 tugs, and all are provided with a towing-post and cleats to which to 

 fasten hawsers. / 



Vessels of this class are usually pretty sharp forward, have consid- 

 erable sheer, straight and nearly vertical stem above water, curving 

 sharply below to join the keel, and a round overhanging stern. As a 

 rule, the midship section is full and rather flat on the floor, but some of 

 the smaller steamers are sharp on the bottom. The differences in this 

 •respect are shown in the illustrations, Plates 1-3. The boiler and steam- 

 engine are located nearly amidships, and are covered by a deck-house, 

 forward of which is the pilot-house. The smaller steamers do not usu- 

 ally have any cabin, but some of the larger boats are better provided. 

 In some cases the deck-house is extended aft of the engine-room, and is 

 used for the storage of nets or other material. But some of the steamers 

 have their nets stowed at the stern, where the deck is raised for the 

 purpose of affording additional accommodations. 



The gill-net steamers are provided with rollers upon their bows, as 

 shown in the illustration, Plate 2. 



The fish are commonly stowed in the hold forward of the engine-room, 

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