BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 395 
square on top 5 have flush decks, and each carries a large capstan near 
the stern that is the motive power for getting on board two trawls 
which they use. They have a peculiar sort of yawl rig, supplemented 
occasionally by a small square topsail on the mainmast. 
3. Apparatus. 
The beam-trawls commonly used by the larger class of the Dutch 
vessels are about the same in all essential details as those used by 
English fishermen. 
A peculiar form of trawl-head iron, Eig. 32, was exhibited in the 
Netherlands department at London, 1883, by W. Groen, of Scheven- 
ingen. This was the invention of the exhibitor, and was attached to a 
trawl-net designed for sole fishing, such as is used by the bomschuiteriy 
and which it is desirable to have pass easily over the ground. The idea 
is somewhat similar to that of de Caux’s, but is less elaborate. 
This trawl-head is somewhat difficult to describe. The upper part is 
a square bar of iron, forked at the lower extremity to fit over the wheel, 
and having holes through the extremities for the axle of the wheel to 
pass through; the upper part of this iron is bent slightly backwards 
and broadened out somewhat to admit of holes being made in it, one 
for the end of the trawl-beam iron and others for the bridle shackle and 
head rope. To the rear lower part is welded a sort of foot, recurved, 
extending over the back of the wheel and resting on the ground behind, 
being held in place by a stout (J shaped iron clamp which passes around 
it and each end of which is bolted to the prongs of the head-iron, a little 
above the wheel axle. At the extremity of this foot, on top, is an eye for 
the ground rope of the trawl to pass through. The w heel itself is of hard 
