The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-15
A TRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND.
FISHING CRAFT.
Models of Queer boats Used by Toll
ers Of the Sea.
Washington Star. !


In one department Of the National Muse
UNI there is a fishing boat FROM Chittagong,
Illustrating curious method of catching fish
practised in that part of the world. A plat
form of light bamboo rods is constructed on
one side, and dips into the water. A long
bamboo rod, with bundle.of twigs fastened
to the end like broom, is swept through the
water. This frightens the fish and drives
them upon the platform. The fishermen
deftly bring the platform out of the water
with a jerk, and the fish slide from 1t into
the boat.
A curragh, from Donegal, ireland, pre-
sented to the museum by the Marquis of
Hamilton, Is interesting, because it shows
what boats men will produce when they have
but limited means at hand. The fishermen
that make these boats are poor. They are
made by constructing frame of willow in
the usual form Of a round-bottom rowboat.
over THIS frame canvas is stretched, and it is
made water-tight by coating of tar on the
outside These boats are made sometimes
twenty-five feet long. and crews of fisher
Many cases In the hall are filed with full
rugged models of fishing vessels sporting
boats and pleasure boats used in different
parts Of the world. There are many strik-
ing contrasts, among these forms, but none
greater, perhaps, than that between the
Dutch and German fishing vessels and the
New England craft used in the mackerel or
cod fishery. 1t Is easy to fancy that the
boats represent the difference in the temper.
aments of the two peoples. There is a Dutch
called "bombschute." 1t is represented in
the museum by model about three feet
long, fully equipped, even to having figures
on It representing the crew at work. The
hull OF the vessel Is nearly square, and looks
and little jigger mast at I the stern. The
vessel has no centreboard, but, in its place, a
wooden arrangement like big paddle, that
Is screwed to one side. and can be raised or
lowered.
This vessel would be very slow and very
safe. 1t is not merely the desire to secure
safety, however, that led to the adoption of
this form. The vessel Is used on a part of
the coast where there are no harbors and it
Is made SO that 1t can be hauled up on the
beach at night and launched In the morning.
A Belgian boat near by, used for beam trawl
nshing, Is made on nearly the same plan as
the bombschute, and for similar reasons
A German fishing schooner in use to-day re-
sembles In form the Gloucester scho0ners of
a century ago. 1t is made of oak, vanished
above the water line and painted black be-
low. lt Is shallow and wide and has
cockpit for the helmsman at the stern.
!, A series OF models epitomize the history of
tne ueVelOpment OIL tne New England fishing
schooner. The schooner was Invented at
Gloucester in the last century The old styIe
Grand Bank cod fishing schooner, used first:
in 1850, had full round bow. curved stem
and what was called 'tgammon-knee" cut
water, long, straight side, high quarter
deck, and windlass worked with hand
spikes. From the decks of this vessel the
crew fished for cod with hand lines. Some
of these schooners, distinguished by unusu-
ally high and short quarter-decks, were
known as "heel-tappers"
The Revolutionary war and the war OF
1872 were destructive to the fishing fleet.
The large schuoners rotted at the wharves.
During that period and following 1t APP
peared small vessels known as Chebacco
boats, because they were built at Chebacco,
a. name anne by which part of the present town
W hi Essex was known. A model OF dog
DpUoy, OF square-stern Chebacc0 boat, is
s sn va IN tne collection. 1t represents yes
SCI Oh seventeen tons burtben. IL has a
ROUND DOW, with high stern painted red.
there being no bowsprit, and carried q fore,
peared entirely from the fishing fleet. Mex Next
IN order OF development came the ninkev
OF from thlrty-hve to forty tons. renresant,
ing the period from 1920 to 18aO r. hos y
full. rounding bow, carried two masts With
three sails, and has a cuddy deck forward
1t Is larger than the Chebacco boat. and mes
rugged with bowsprit. Pinkeys Of this type