The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

THE DEEP SEA FISHING IN SCOTLAND.

A few weeks ago we gave an account of the launch,
at Granton, of the Enterprise, the first steam-vessel
constructed for the Deep Sea Fishing Association of
Scotland, by the Messrs. Ruthven, of Edinburgh, with
their patented improvements in propelling and navigat-
ing. We have now to report, that though subject to
the drawbacks consequent upon the trial of a new in-
vention for propelling steamboats without the use of
screw or paddle, this vessel, in her experimental trips
made last week, attained a speed of upwards of eleven
miles an hour, although the association contracted for
ten only. The vessel will shortly proceed upon a
fishing cruise, when the efficiency of the invention,
and her adaptation to fishing purposes, will be fully
tested ; but, meanwhile, a brief account of its more
important features, so far as they can be understood
without diagrams, may not be without interest. From
time to time, during the last year or two, the merits of the
invention have, by means of models of varying magnitude,
been brought before the public. The practicability of
applying the principle to steam propulsion and naviga-
tion being ascertained by these successive experiments,
it was, from its apparent advantages, adopted by the
promoters of the Deep Sea Fishing Association. The
dimensions of the Enterprise, as we formerly stated, are
100 feet in length, and 16 feet beam ; her tonnage being
100, and her engines 30 horde-power. Externally her
light and graceful lines are not injured by any cumber-
some machinery—the only outward agent of propulsion
being a s!iort curved pipe of 10 inches diameter on each
side of the vessel, termed " nozies," which commu-
nicate with a horizontal water-tight iron case in-
side in the bottom of the vessel, to which the water
is admitted by apertures under it ; and in this case is
placed a wheel, fixed on a double crank shaft, which,
heing attached by piston rods to the steam-engine,
is made to revolve with some velocity. The water in the
case is rapidly expelled by the circular motion, and, being
discharged by the nozles, forms the propelling power.
Independent of its scientific and practical value, the ab-
sence of any visible agency of propulsion is not the least
interesting feature of the invention. The nozles, however,
also form the chief means of navigating the vessel, being
suspended so as to turn her, by a simple movement of
the hand, in any direction. Thus, when pointed hori-
zontally towards the stern, the vessel goes forward ; if
to the bows she goes astern ; and, when turned in a
perpendicular direction, she stops almost at once, al-
though, during all these movements, the engine may
be working with full power. Indeed, the remarkable
facility by which these operations—usually so difficult
in vessels of the common construction—are effected,
without interfering with the engine, seems to render the
invention invaluable in cases of apparent danger or
collision. In the trial ships this feature was fully
tested, and with the most gratifying result. Among the
advantages claimed for the invention may be enumerated
high rate of speed combined with saving of fuel. The sail-
ing qualities of the ship being preserved, the canvas may
be used, or with the full power of the engine, though the
principle can be adapted to any speed that steam is calcula-
ted to produce. The vessel is also free from the usual vi-
bration and noise of steam-vessels ; while the apparatus
for propulsion is quite safe from external injury. The
engine being of limited dimensions, occupies much less
space than others of equal power. The Enterprise is to
be schooner-rigged, and will proceed to the fishing ground
with boats, and their crews, trawl-nets, and lines. The
boats are lowered where it may be considered most de-
sirable, while the steamer admits of fishing and trawling
from her decks, besides affording assistance and the
means of safety at all times to the fishermen. The deep-
sea fishing scheme, in the success of which the commu-
nity generally has so small interest—will, therefore, soon
be in active operation. The inventors consider that,
valuable as the principle of the invention may be for
fishing purposes, it is equally valuable to our steam navy
and to ocean and passenger vessels, while they expect it
to remove the chief difficulty of steam navigation on
canals.—Edinburgh, Courant.