BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 303 
for all the ship’s stores, which mast be kept in a proper condition for 
use. He should have a familiar knowledge of the buoys, beacons, light- 
houses, light-ships, and landmarks along the coast, and much experience 
in the management of a vessel under all circumstances, since, in the 
absence or inability of the master, the mate must take charge of the 
ship and carry on the work. 
“The master’s duty [says Olsen], when he takes charge of a smack, is 
to overhaul the rigging, sails, running gear, anchors, chain, pumps, side 
and mast-head light, see that his compass is correct, and order his pro- 
visions, ice, and stores for the voyage. 
“He must know the duties of every man on board, and see that every 
man does his duty. He must never forget that he is the master , and as 
such answerable to the owner. He must be able to navigate his vessel 
skilfully, know how to use his chart, and find his position on it by 
soundings taken . 1 He should be able to find the latitude by meridian 
altitude of the sun, work a day’s work, and find the time of high water. 
He must be well acquainted with the rules of the road , lights, buoys, 
beacons, and dangerous shoals, where his trade lies, and know the na- 
ture of the ground for fishing. He must be an able seaman as well as 
a good fisherman, so that he can manage his vessel in all weathers and 
under all circumstances, and pick a boat up in bad weather with safety. 
It is his duty to see the trawl-warp properly secured to the mast when 
fishing, see that side and mast-head lights are properly trimmed, lit, 
and in their places at sundown. He should see to the icing and pre- 
paring of the fish for market and arrange them for sale in the market. 
He must see that the watches are properly kept at sea and at anchor, 
navigate the ship himself when going to sea until free of danger, and 
he must be ready at any moment (night or day) to come on deck when 
called, and use his superior knowledge in all emergencies. * * # 
He must act exactly as if handling his own property and not that of 
another man, keep his ship clean and in a seaworthy condition, and 
always keep a good lookout .” 2 
The skipper and mate usually receive a share in the proceeds of the 
catch, and the third hand may be, and often is, paid a part of a share 
and a part in a certain stipulated sum per week, but the two younger 
members of the crew are hired. 
1 So far as I am able to judge by the observations which I had an opportunity of 
making, very little attention is paid to the higher branches of navigation on the 
trawlers. The principal dependence of the trawling skipper is on h'-s long experience 
and familiarity with the soundings on the fishing grounds and along the coast, sup- 
plemented by his thorough knowledge of the set of the tides. By constant practice 
for years men become wonderfully expert in this peculiar kind of seamanship and 
navigation, and seem to reach accurate conclusions as to their position by a process 
which seems almost intuitive. The fishermen generally have a fair knowledge of 
charts, and understand the ordinary rules for keeping dead reckoning, but we were 
informed that observations of the sun or stars were seldom made for latitude, and 
we could not learn that chronometers are carried, though such may be the case in 
rare instances. 
2 Fisherman’s Seamanship, etc., pp. 34, 35, 
