536 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [46] 



are made by nailing together at right angles two pieces of board 

 about 7 or 8 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches long, these being stayed 

 or strengthened by narrow pieces fastened diagonally across the angle. 

 One end of this rude contrivance rests on a cleat nailed to the boat's 

 side, and the other on top of one of the thwarts, or the boards which 

 cover the u fish-room." These boats are ceiled to the thwarts. 



Boats of this class are schooner-rigged, and generally carry a "lug- 

 footed v gaff foresail and mainsail, and a small jib. A few boats, how- 

 ever, have sprit-sails. The spread of canvas is small, for several 

 reasons; first, the land is high and steep, and squalls are frequent when 

 the wind blows from the hills ; second, the nearness of the fishing 

 grounds to the " stages v renders it unnecessary to have large sails ; 

 and, third, the fishermen are generally poor, and can not afford any ex- 

 pense that is not actually required. 



The sails are usually made of hemp canvas or cotton drilling, and 

 invariably have some preservative applied to them. They are most 

 commonly daubed over with cod-fish oil or the cheaper blubber, and 

 with this is often mixed coal tar; sometimes the sails are tanned. Tan- 

 ning makes the sails a reddish brown, but the oil and tar stains them a 

 dirty black. There are two outriggers aft, to which the mainsheet 

 trims, one of these projecting from each quarter a little abaft the rud- 

 der. The sails are commonly attached to the masts by wooden hoops — 

 sometimes by ropes — and may be hoisted or lowered, but they are gen- 

 erally furled on the mast. Three or more long roughly-made spruce 

 oars, and one or two shorter ones, are carried for use in calm weather. 

 They have a peg in the butt of the handle — a characteristic feature of 

 Newfoundland oars. A five-pronged iron anchor of about 25 pounds' 

 weight is used. This is attached to a coir rope-cable, the end of the 

 rope being made fast to a piece of chain 7 fathoms long, that in turn 

 is secured to the crown of the anchor, while a few turns of line hold it 

 to the anchor ring. If caught in the rocky bottom the line breaks, 

 and the anchor may be pulled up by its crown. Coir rope is used for 

 painter, cable, etc., because it is cheaper thau mauilla or hemp, and also 

 more elastic than either. 



The material used in construction is generally as follows: American 

 pine, three-fourths inch thick, for outside planking and ceiling; oak or 

 juniper for frames, gunwales, etc. ; spruce for thwarts, and copper for 

 fastening. 



A boat will cost from $85 to $100 ready for use, but this is usually 

 exclusive of more or less work done by the fishermen, who ballast their 

 craft with stones, and generally make the oars, masts, etc., even if they 

 hire the hull built. 



The following are the dimensions : 



Ft. In. 



Length, over all 25 



Keel 20 



Beam 7 4£ 



