'308 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
built with the principal object of living through anything, and rarely 
failed to make good weather of it at all times. Many of these strong 
well-built vessels are still at work, and would be likely to hold their 
own for many more years, were it not that sea-going qualities are not 
the only ones required at the present day. Now, the greater demand 
for fish and the increased number of smacks have led to more compe- 
tition among the fishermen, and time has become more valuable; for 
the first boats in are liable to get the best price for their fish. Most of 
the modern trawl- vessels are of a large size, running up to 70 tons N. 
M., and are fine powerful craft of upwards of 60 feet keel and good 
beam. They are, as formerly, built high at the bow and with plenty 
of sheer, making them easy and comfortable sea- boats, and whilst their 
increase in size enables them to use larger trawl-beams and larger nets, 
the general improvement in the knowledge of ship building has led to 
the adoption of easier lines in their construction, resulting in the much 
better sailing qualities which are now required to meet the demands 
of the trade. The quick delivery of the fish is every day becoming a 
more important object, as the demand for it increases all over the 
country; and the smacks may daily be seen racing back to the great 
trawling stations to land their fish, each one endeavoring, often with 
the help of balloon canvas, to bring her catch early to market, where 
the buyers are waiting with orders to purchase for all parts of the 
country. 
“The vessels regularly employed in trawling are, as we have said,, 
called ‘smacks, 7 a term which appears to have been applied to fishing 
boats rigged as sloops or cutters. In these smacks the mast is stepped 
well forward so as to allow of a large and powerful mainsail, at the 
same time giving plenty of room for the stowage of a long trawl-beam 
and large net when not at work. The rigging of these vessels was 
formerly rough and simple, and a long head to the mast to support the 
short top-mast was all that was necessary when only a small top sail 
was to be set; but the large light sails now carried commonly require 
the addition of cross-trees and back-stays to secure the spar under the 
strain it has to bear. In the west country the bowsprit is without any 
rigging as the head-sails are small, and it is desirable to have no bob- 
stay in the way of the trawl-warp, which, being always hauled in over 
the bow, has to be led thence outside clear of the rigging to one side 
or other of the vessel, according to which tack she is on when at work, 
and to be brought on board again amidships, where it is made fast to 
the pump-head. A large winch is fitted just before the mast for heav- 
ing in the trawl, and there is a small windlass astern, called the ‘dandy 
wink, 71 shipped between the head of the companion and the bulwark, 1 2 
1 “ Dandy” signifies small, and “ wink ” is the name applied to a windlass worked 
by short fixed levers instead of by movable handspikes. 
2 Since the increase in the size of the smacks of late years the relative position of 
the dandy wink has been changed farther aft. See description of dandy winch in 
another paragraph. 
