FRESH-HALIBUT FISHEKY. 77 



To one standing upon the deck of our little schooner at this time, the scene, though grand and 

 impressive, had a decidedly wintry and dreary look. The ice-covered hull and rigging, the dark 

 masses of snow-laden clouds driven to leeward by the gale, which shrieked and whistled through 

 the ropes and lashed into the wildest furj the foam-flecked waters, piling them into huge waves, 

 was a sight that, once seen, could never be forgotten. But on we went, now plunging down the 

 side of a great wave, again lurching heavily, filling the deck with water, which, as* the vessel 

 straightened up again, went dashing over to the weather-side, often out over the rail, and some of 

 it finding its way, through the binnacle, into the cabin. 



The remark of one of our boys that '"any one who can't swim had better take a back seat" was 

 certainly very apt, but the gravity uf the situation, and the dangers incident to running in such a 

 gale, with the sea on the quarter, were better expressed by the order, frequently shouted to the man 

 at the wheel, " Watch her sharp, now ! Keep your eye to wiml'ard, and if you see a big one coming, 

 swing her off and let her take it stem-to." 



During the afternoon there was a nasty and dangerous cross-sea running, rendering it extremely 

 unsafe to continue on our course during the night. We therefore took in the jib and furled it before 

 dark, and at 5 o'clock p. m. hove to under double-reefed foresail and riding-sail. At 7 p. m. the 

 gale still continued with uudiminisbed force, but, like a gull with its head under its wing, our little 

 vessel rises and falls, safely breasting the foam-crested waves as they go seething by, leaving behind 

 them a phosphorescent track, which lights up the surrounding darkness,iu a peculiarly weird manner. 

 Thus closes this day, the events of which I now sit down to write before turning in for the night. 



Monday, January 27, 1879 We kept off again at 6 a. in. At this time the wind still blew a 

 gale. The sky was overcast with heavy leaden-looking clouds, varied occasionally by a wild-look- 

 ing black and scurrying snow squall, driving along to leeward. The barometer had risen to 30.00. 

 It still remained as cold as yesterday. We set the jib at 7, and shook the reef out of the foresail 

 at 7.30 a. m. The wind had lulled some at this time, though it still blew heavy in the squalls. 

 When these struck in the sails, the Marion would tremble and quiver like a leaf, and, settling 

 down to her work, roll up the white water under her bows, sending sheets of foam and spray hiss- 

 ing ofi' to leeward. At 10 a. m. we passed about half a mile to windward of a large brig rigged 

 steamship. She was heading to the westward and had fore and main trysails and close-reefed fore 

 and main topsails set; was badly iced up and going slow. As a general thing we go along first- 

 rate. Sometimes, however, our schooner takes a heavy lurch to leeward, sending the lee rail under 

 out of sight. When she straightens up again the water rushes to windward, often going over the 

 weather rail, but more frequently filling the binnacle, and thereby finding its way into the lee 

 bunks, and calling forth emphatic exclamations from those who are thus unfortunate enough to 

 have 'wet boots and bed-clothes. The clouds were broken at noon. I got a meridian observation 

 and found our latitude to be 42 39' N. We made an average of ten knots this forenoon. The 

 wind decreased a little in the afternoon, and there was a decided change in the temperature, so 

 much so that the ice on deck grew softer. At 4 p. m. a "flopper" broke over the quarter, some of 

 which came into the cabin and wet the book in which I am writing my journal. This is a bad time 

 for writing, but I shall not soon get a better chance, and this one must therefore be improved. 

 The wind veered gradually to the westward in the afternoon, and at 6 p. m. was WNW.; bar- 

 ometer, 29.95. At 8.30 p m. there was somewhat less wind and smoother sea. 



Tuesday, January 28, 1879. The wind moderated gradually after midnight, and at 2.30 a. m. 

 called all hands, unbent the riding-sail, and set the mainsail and staysail. Light baffling airs and 

 calms at G a. in., with indications of an easterly wind. Barometer, 30.10. At 7.30 n. m. a light 

 breeze sprang up from .SE. by E. We tacked, and headed l<> flic eastward on the starboard tack; 



