Banks dory

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The Banks dory is a narrow-bottomed, slab-sided boat with a very narrow transom used for fishing off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland since the 16th century. These boats were inexpensive to build, and stacked on the decks of larger fishing vessels. Dories came into use once it was discovered that handlining for cod was more successful than fishing for them from the larger mother ships.

[edit] Origin of name

It is unclear if the name refers to their use in fishing on the Grand Banks or to the fact that they were stored in stacks, individually called a bank, on the deck of fishing ships.

[edit] Characteristics

Banks dories have long overhangs, both bow and stern, to help lift them over large waves. They were usually manned by two rowers, or 'dory mates'. They would usually set out from the mother ship in the morning and return by sunset with the day's catch.

A Banks dory is seen in Winslow Homer's painting The Fog Warning.

Banks dories have been capable of surviving long voyages, some unintentional, when the fishermen became separated from their mother ships. One of the more famous adventures was by Howard Blackburn, who survived 5 days in the North Atlantic in January.

See also: Dory, Glouster dory, Swampscott dory, and Cape Ann dory.