The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-04-11
AN AUXILIARY FISHERMAN.
Steam to help out sails.

81 o1OSSEoI En-, MdTCu 81. w nav ploLA
lses TO work revolution in the equip
ment of the fishing fleet, and marks a
step In the evolution that is sure to dis
place sails with steam or other motive
power in the fisheries, is the introduc-
tlon OF the gasoline engine as an auxlll-
airy motive power.
This experiment was first tried last
year i'll the schooner Helen Miller
Gould. Although for certain reasons
1t has not proved wholly successful,
owing to defects, enough has been DEM
OnStrated to prove concluSlvely to the
fishermen that this auxiliary power is
feasible.
The new schooner Mary E. Harry, re-
Gently built for Capt. Charles Harty,
has been equipped with an S5-horse
power Capt. Harty, with business
sagacity, stipulated to the manufactur-
ers that this machinery should undergo
a 10-hour test at sea after it had re-
ceived the preliminary trying before it
was accepted.
all that could be desired, leaving no
doubt in the minds of those who wit
messed it that the gasoline engine or
or other auxiliary motive power has its
place on a mackerel seiner, at least, and
has come to stay.
On Thursday, the day of the trial, the
weather conditions were of the best to
| give the engine an exhaustive test. The
wind was heavy from the northwest,
and quite sea was on.
1t had been generally supposed that
| these gasoline engines were good only in
light winds and smooth water when
they are to be brought in play, but the
tests Thursday proved otherwise. The
first leg of the course was from the
buoy off Eastern point to the Graves,
and for two hours and half, against
head wind and sea, the log showed that
| the vessel had averaged six knots an
| hour.
From the Graves to Davis ledge buoy
the wind favored the speed of the YES
sci more, and on s 1-2 miles the log
showed that - knots had been made
in exactly one hour These tests were
with the engine solely, no sail being
hoisted on the craft.
| From this point on the course was set
| for Thatchers, and all sail piled on bal
loon jlbs and topsails included. There
may be a prettier thing than a brand
new seiner, fully rugged, with all kites
blowing under a WHOLESALE breeze, but
fishermen do not know it, and the Har-
ty bowled along like a thing of life.
| Practically the vessel was close haul
ed to Thatchers She made the entire
distance of % ID miles in two hours
and - minutes.
| A further test was made between
the buoys for the measured mile course
over which the torpedo boat Lawrence
has been tried. Down the wind she
| went the mile in eight minutes and Is
seconds, returning with the wind dead
| n hos 1tnc Il 90 l4
According to the engine room observa-
lions the engine made 240 revolutions
per minute. and with sail, by the wind,
made 253 revolutions. The slowest
speed was 155 revolutions aid the high
est 255.
The new schooner Mary Z. Harry,
named after Capt. Harty's wife, Is one
of the most advanced fishing vessels in
design that ever came off the stocks.
She is as tine-lined as yacht and as
thoroughbred in appearance She is
from designs by Capt. George Melvin
McClain, the welLknown designer of
fast fishermen and pleasure craft, and
is as beautiful a bit of wood as ever
sailed the seas, clipper every inch of
her. She measures about 1875 tons.
Her accommodations are of the best.
| Forward, the forecastle has been fitted
up with every convenience. The cooks
quarters are nicely arranged with sinks
and every improvement in the culinary
line at his disposal. There are IA berths
forward.
The gasoline engine abuts the cabin
bulkhead and is businesslike looking
piece of machinery, compact and sub
stantial Right opposite, under each
wing, are two galvanized iron tanks, in
which is stored the gasoline. The two
have a capacity of 1000 gallons, which
will last a good while, the consumption
of gas per hour, per horsepower. being
one tenth of gallon.
OF course the engine is to be brought
into requisition only on special occa-
sions, generally in calm weather. The
| clipper built fishing schooners, especial
ly those designed for the mackerel fish
cry, are among the fastest craft under
sail atioat. When good breeze is
blowing sail is amply sufficient and the
engine will be idle except, perhaps,
when a good fare is secured and the
vessels are racing to market.
The primary object of these auxiliary
engines is for calm weather. Often
times the lookout on the masthead
sight school of mackerel six OR eight
miles away on calm day when the yes
SCI Is lying mOIlOnleSS, almost, Oh tue
waters. Then the gasoline engine is
brought into play and the vessel is
headed in the desired direction. Or
perhaps the vessel may be dead to lee
ward of the school and some time may
elapse before the vessel can be brought
to where the school was sighted and in
the meantime the fish may have disap-
peared.
Often crews chase the school for lorg
distance and become utterly fatigued
before chance is obtained to set the
seine, or if the school is captured the
horde of dogfish and sharks that follow
the mackerel as prey tear and bite
huge holes in the seine, damaging the
gear badly and affording means for the
imprisoned fish to escape before the
vessel can be brought up.
Thus it is mainly in calm weather,
under the most favorable circumstances
for the working of the engine, that the
machinery will be availed of, and in
running for market.
That this departure means the gradual
substitution of power for sail no one
who keeps apace with the fishing bust
! ness dOuhtS With the SuccaSS of these