FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 25 



square stern, and occasionally it is fitted with a center-board. This is 

 especially the case about Milwaukee. 1 



Its construction varies in other particulars, some boats being carvel- 

 built, while in others the planks lap over each other. Most of those at 

 Grand Haven are lap streaked or clinker-built, while the opposite is 

 true at Milwaukee. In all cases, however, it has the hollow floor, which 

 is such a characteristic feature of the fishing-boats of Norway and 

 Sweden. 



It is usually half-decked forward and aft— sometimes decked only 

 at the bow — with wash-boards along the sid6s. 



The frame is of white oak, the plank of white oak, but exceptionally 

 of pine, the deck at each end and the wash-boards are usually pine, and 

 the fastening is wrought-iron, well riveted on inside. 



The rig is that of a sloop or cutter, a boat having one* mast and 

 usually carrying three sails, mainsail, forestay-sail, and jib. The jibs 

 are generally set flying without a stay, and sometimes a boat will have 

 two sizes of jibs, a large one for moderate winds and a small one for 

 heavy weather. Sometimes a gaff-topsail is used in light winds. 



The cost varies, according to the best authorities, from $300 to $1,000. 

 The average would be about $G00. Captain Coffy thinks the average 

 cost will not exceed $325. 



The dimensions vary from 25 to 35 feet in length. The following fig- 

 ures have been obtained from three places : 



Grand Haven, Michigan : 



Length feet.. 25 to 30 



Extreme beam do. .. 9 to 11 



Length of mast do. .. 25 to 30 



Diameter of mast inches.. 7 to 9 



Length of bowsprit, outboard feet.. 14 to 16 



Racine, Wisconsin : 



Length, overall feet.. 25 to 30 



Beam do... 9 to 11 



Length of mast do . . . 24 to 28 



Diameter of mast inches.. 8 



Bowsprit, outboard feet.. 12 to 16 



Milwaukee, Wisconsin : 



Length, over all feet.. 35 



Beam do... 8-$- 



Depth do... 3i 



Hoist of mainsail do . . . 20 



These boats usually carry from three to five men, but sometimes as 



many as six. 



14. POUND-NET BOAT. 



For attending the pounds on the Great Lakes there are employed a 

 large number of schooner-rigged boats, which in shape more or less 

 closely approximate to the form of the sharpie. There appear to be 



1 One who has sailed in these boats says that those which are sharp aft are better 

 than the square-stern class, especially when fishing or running in a heavy seaway. 



