20 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



access being had to this through a large hatchway located just in 

 front of the pilot-house. It is often the case, as at Cheboygan, Michi- 

 gan, that the steamers are provided with pens and ice-boxes in the hold, 

 into which the fish are put. 



When the gill-nets are hauled they are stowed below, just as they 

 come from the water ; two men stand on an elevated platform in the 

 hatchway to receive and coil away the nets in the hold. 



The lake fishing steamers generally have a single mast that stands 

 forward of the pilot-house, with a stay set up at the stem head. Sails 

 are seldom used, however, but the gaff attached to the mast chiefly 

 serves the purpose of a derrick, having a tackle attached to it, by which 

 fish-boxes, etc., are hoisted in and out of the vessel. 



The illustration, Plate 1, is from a model in the National Museum at 

 Washington, and represents a type of fishing steamer that is used quite 

 extensively in the lake fisheries. This is sharp on the floor, sets pretty 

 low in the water, and is considerably deeper than the majority of vessels 

 of this class. The steamer represented by the model referred to has the 

 following dimensions : 



Length over all, 61 feet; beam, extreme, 11J feet; draught, aft, 5-^ 2 - 

 feet ; mast, above deck, 34 feet ; length of gaff, 15^ feet. 



The illustrations, Plates 2 and 3, of the sheer plan, deck plan, and 

 cross sections of the lake fishing-steamer T. R. Merrill, built in 1875, 

 were furnished the writer by Mr. Frank E. Kirby, consulting engineer 

 of the Detroit Dry Dock Company. This represents the type of 

 steamer most commonly used for lake fishing. As will be seen, she has 

 a full midship section, rather flat floor, moderate sheer, and high free- 

 board in ordinary ballast trim. She has a raised deck or poop aft for 

 about one-third the length of the vessel, which affords additional capac- 

 ity in that section. The mast in this vessel is short, and is apparently 

 used only as a support to the gaff, upon which the hoisting tackle is 

 suspended. A small flag-pole stands at the bow. The frame and 

 planking are white oak ; deck and deck-houses white pine. She steams 

 10 miles per hour. The following are the principal dimensions: 



Length over all, 75 feet ; length on calculated water-line, 68 feet ; 

 beam, extreme, 13£ feet ; depth, molded, 7J feet ; depth of hold amid- 

 ships, 7 feet; draught, aft, 4^ 2 - feet ; height of mast above deck, 20J 

 feet. 



The following are some of the principal details of the steam-tug Er- 

 win, of Sandusky, Ohio, which was built for fishing with gill-nets. 



In general appearance she resembles an ordinary tug, with sharp 

 bow, stem straight and nearly plumb above water, strong sheer, round 

 stern, and deck-houses (including pilot-house) raised considerably above 

 the deck. There is a " break" at the after end of the engine-house, the 

 stern portion of the deck being 11 J inches higher than that forward of 

 it, and only 8 inches below the top of the rail. The elevation of the 

 after deck apparently serves a double purpose; there is more room be- 



