FRESH-HALIBUT FISHERY. 53 



fmirt-sleeves, and jumping into the rigging, climbed far enough above deck to get a good view, and 

 clung there for nearly two hours, directing the wheelsman how to steer to avoid coming in contact 

 either with the floe or straggling pieces of ice. The latter, which were of various sizes, were really 

 the most dangerous, since they could not be seen so quickly. It was bright moonlight, however, 

 which was much in our favor, and by taking in the foresail we reduced the speed of the vessel, so that 

 we passed safely by hundreds of isolated pieces of ice, any one of which would have knocked in our 

 vessel's bow had she struck it. With the wind blowing a northeast gale and sweeping down from 

 such a vast body of ice as lay to windward, the air was keen and biting, as may be easily surmised, 

 and when at last we had cleared all of the fine "lolly-ice," which strung out to leeward of the main 

 floe, and the increasing motion of the vessel gave evidence of open water to windward, I crawled 

 down out of the rigging, but was so thoroughly chilled that I could scarcely stand. 



Since there was still possible danger of meeting more ice, and the wind had increased somewhat, 

 I concluded not to set the foresail before daylight. When we cleared the ice we were nearly a 

 hundred miles south of the latitude of Sable Island, and were therefore obliged to steer west-norlh- 

 west, which brought ns almost in the trough of the sea. Having warmed myself and ordered the 

 watch to call me if there were any indications of ice or increase of wind, I turned in. The sea 

 increased very much toward morning, and a little after daybreak we were tripped and knocked 

 down. The mainbooui went under nearly to the mast, parting the boom-tackle; one man in the 

 forecastle was thrown from a weather into a lee bunk, and another, who was lying in a berth on the 

 lee side, was scalded by the contents of the coffee-pot, which came tumbling on top of him from the 

 stove on the opposite side. Altogether there was quite a mixing up of things; but almost before 

 we had a chance to realize the situation, the vessel was back on her bottom and tearing along on 

 her course again. Xot caring, however, to repeat the performance if we could avoid it, we set a 

 double-reefed foresail, took in the mainsail, and bent the riding-sail in its stead. Under this canvas 

 we kept along on our course, though such was the danger of being knocked down again that I 

 staid on deck all day directing the man at the wheel how to steer to escape the ugly cross-seas that 

 very frequently came along. It was anything but pleasant, to be sure, to run a vessel under such 

 circumstances, but nevertheless we kept her going, swingiug off almost before it sometimes, and 

 hauling to on our course again, or a little to windward of it, when a chance offered. In this way 

 we went along safely until about sundown, when, being very hungry, I went below for a lunch, first 

 giving the man at the wheel the order to " watch her sharp; swing her off quick if you see a bad 

 one coming, and let her take it steru-to." I had scarcely seated myself on the weather side of the 

 forecastle table, with a piece of bread in one hand and a mug of tea in the other, when the vessel 

 was thrown completely on her beam ends. Dropping whatever I held, I sprang for the companion- 

 way the instant I felt her going over. But the water, rushing over the top of the companion doors, 

 met me as I gained the top of the steps, and as the vessel was at that time lying flat on her side, 

 the prospect of her righting again before she filled looked rather dubious. There was a strong 

 probability, too, that the man at the wheel had been washed overboard or injured, and if such was 

 the case the vessel, should she right, would be in danger of broaching-to and having another sea 

 sweep over her. Fortunately, as in the morning, she soon straightened up again, and I jumped out 

 on deck and ran for the wheel. By the time I reached the main hatch, though it took scarcely an 

 instant, the wind struck into the sails, and the vessel, starting ahead with a rush, drew herself out 

 .from beneath the water under which she was buried from the mainmast aft, and which went dash- 

 ing and splashing out over the stern and both rails as she once more rose buoyant on top of the 

 waves. So far under water had she been that the wheelsman (a six footer) was entirely submerged 

 when the vessel righted, though he stood on his feet, still retaining his grip of the wheel. The men 



