The dory begins to be used by French cod fishermen after the war of 1870. It is a sturdy dinghy with a flat bottom and a trapeze frame; very seaworthy it is very light and can be easily hoisted on board and stacked keel upright, after removal of its benches, thereby leaving free passage on the deck.

Every morning, as soon as daylight allows “to see the deck planking” each “boss” and his “Doris front mate” heave the Dory into the water and rise the twenty four 133meter long lines set the day before. If fishing is good, they have to make a number of rounds. Back on board, they “work” the fish then bait the 1800 hooks of their lines which they set late afternoon. At night the craft is hoisted on board except when, weather permitting, they are moored to the “sabaille”: a towline set aft.

In 1912 there were about 100 Newfoundlanders in St.Malo and 40 in Cancale. Construction of Dorys was therefore in important activity for the yards all the more so that these craft did not last long under the harsh conditions of the Newfoundland banks.

This booklet was prepared under the guidance of Jean Le Bot, expert on Northern Brittany fishing boats.

Length : 5,90 m.
Beam : 1,80 m.

Model building : Simple

Scale of drawing : 1/20th,
six plans, six colour photographs, one notice (french).