The Washington herald., 1908-09-06
FRENCH USE MOTOR BOATS.
Fishermen of bordeaux Find Them
increasingly Convenient.

Increasingly Convenient.
Writing from Bordeaux. Vice Consul J.
n Wise says The petroleum motor boat IS
now much used in the French sardine
fisheries on this subject he says
In connection with the gradual cxpan-
sion Of the motor-boat industry a. this
port and the various uses 10 Uhich the
marine motor has been adapted. a strik-
ing Illustration is furnished by the
''pinasse-' or canoe. fitted with a petro-
leum motor now being used with excel
lent results OF the French coast by the
sardine fishermen Of ArcachOn.
The American motor has made a small
but successful beginning at ArcachOn, It's
ease Of operation and durability winning
a place among a strong field Of competi-
tors Tne growing popularity Of the
motor-pr0pelled pfuasse may vet be in
strumeutaI in opening a market to the
American product Of this description.
The following Is a translation from the
Bulletin de Ia SOciete de Geographic Com
unerciale Of Bordeaux on this subject
The first attempt a. fishing for sar-
dimes at Arcachou with boats propelled
by petroleum motors dates from, the lat
ter part Of the year 1896. During the
month Of September Of this year a num-
Der Of the owners Of 'canots petrOle'
conceived the idea Of using their craft for
sardfne fishing. The sardine havi lg I'm
gered on the coast between Arcschc7 and
Bavonne the results achieved were re
markable. The fishing lasted thus during
the greater part Of the winter, and was
particularly productive during October
and November.
Stimulated by this success. the owners
Constructors were deluged with orders.
and IL is estimated that before July. 190S.
at least rs phases or motor canoes,
properly equipped for fishing, viii be
navigating the bay Of Arcachon. The
boats employed are Of two kinds, the
long primitive canoe with squared ends
and the ancient sailing pinasse. to which
a motor is adapted.
The fact that winter fishing is con-
ducted far from the waters Of the bay
Will cause the fishermen eventually 10
use stancher craft. partly bridged over
and better able TO resist the shock Of
the sea
THE motors IN use range anywhere
from four 10 fifteen horsepower.
a single pinasse q feet in length. car
rying a six TO eight horsepower motor
and a crew OF five men. caught IN four
teen trips I1s.500 sardines. This catch
sold for 3.6e250 francs (S,G6-SGl- The ex-
penses incident TO the outlay for bait. oil.
&c. amounted to 5i3-25 francs Sl0so5),
l leaving a net profit OF 31i9-25 francs
| (s507S0).
Another boat Of the same type after
six months fishing (September l. 1907, 70
February q. 1909 showed a net return OF
$500 francs (S579) TO the owner and l50l
francs CS2Ss.50) 70 each Of the five men
composing the crew.
a third pinasse caught in twenty-five
DAYS $1,000 sardines. which sold for S.6l4
francs (S6g7.50). Most Of this fishing WSs
carried on during the winter months un-
der adverse conditions
1T Is very certain that without this
! feet OF phases moteur ocean fishing
during winter and summer would scarcely
be productive Of results. as the sardines
are generally beyond the radius traverseo
! by sailing boats Of this size"