540 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [50] 



is to make them adapted to use on the ice. The lighter they are the 

 easier they can be moved, and they require much strength and elasticity 

 to withstand the rough usage they must get, while the curved and 

 sloping stem and stern-post and the smooth planking facilitate their 

 passage over ice-floes. 



The difference in the size of the boats at Toulinguet depends chiefly 

 on the work tbey have to do. Those employed in the trap and seine 

 cod-fishery are the largest, and average 28 feet in length over all ; the 

 hand-line boats range from 18 to 20 feet over all, while the sealing-punt 

 (which is also used for line cod-fishing) averages about 16 feet in length. 



As a rule, the boats of all sizes are provided with sails and oars. 

 The rig varies a good deal, however, and apparently depends entirely 

 upon the fancy of the boatmen. Some of the boats are sloop-rigged, 

 with the mast a little forward of amidships; they carry a loose-footed 

 sprit mainsail and jib, the latter tacking down to the stem-head (see 

 plate VII). The schooner-rig is in favor. Sometimes only two sprit- 

 sails are carried, but perhaps as often a boat will have three sails, a 

 small jib being set on a short bowsprit. Some boats are also rigged 

 as yawls, with the mainmast short and well forward, a small jib, and 

 a diminutive sprit and boom jigger-sail (or "driver") set on a little 

 mast which is stepped at the extreme stern. 



The following are the details of construction, etc., of one of the 

 Toulinguet boats used for cod-fishing (see plates VII and XI for lines 

 and sail plan) : 



She was a carvel-built, open, keel boat, with sharp bow, raking curved 

 stem, rising floor and flaring sides, long easy run, heart-shaped, raking 

 square stern, and no overhang to counter. She had three thwarts and 

 a seat across the stern. These were 6 inches below the gunwale and 

 rested upon a ribband 1J by J inches, which extended from stem to stern 

 of the boat. She had two sets of oak rowlocks, each having a single 

 thole-pin in its after end.* There was a small platform aft, a keelson 

 piece (or foot-rest) 3 inches wide, three battens or ribbands on each 

 side, each 2 inches wide and separated about their width from each other. 

 There were twenty-one frames, spaced 9 inches from center to center. 

 The keel was shod with iron to facilitate its passage over the ice, and 

 also to protect it from injury. 



The material used in construction is as follows: Timbers, keel, stem, 

 stern-post, gunwales, and thwarts of spruce ; planking of pine ; fasten- 

 ings of black wrought iron. 



Dimensions. 



Ft. In. 



Length, over all \ 17 9f 



Keel 14 6 



Beam 4 9 



Moulded depth, amidships 1 10 



Width of stem 3 3 



* The rowlocks are commonly made of hirch. But occasionally the staves of an 

 oak cask are used, as was the case when the hoat above described was built. 



