i897-] Praeger. — Expedition to Rockall. 317 



was a fragment of coral, entangled in the swabs. It was 

 clearly no use trying to dredge on such foul ground in so 

 high a sea, so till dark we lay drifting and rolling, simply 

 hanging on on the chance of the wind and sea going down. 

 It was brighter in the afternoon, with patches of sunlight — the 

 first we had since leaving port — which lit up the scene 

 cheerily. The last we saw of Rockall was at lo.o p.m., a black 

 conical speck against a dark sky, on the edge of the darker 

 water. 



This morning the weather was unchanged — very dull, with 

 a strong N.E. wind and heavy sea. We shot the Agassiz 

 trawl at 7.0 a.m., in 150 fathoms with 400 fathoms of wire rope, 

 16 miles to leeward (S.W.) of the rock. Commenced heaving 

 in at 90, and got it aboard at lo.o. The net was all torn to 

 rags, and in it only one very-large Dorocidaris, with every spine 

 knocked off. Out of the tangles we got about half a dozen 

 corals, half a dozen star-fishes, a small sea-urchin, and a worm 

 with a beautiful transparent tube like a quill — that was our 

 whole haul. This was another disappointment, and still 

 another awaited us when Green came to tell us that coal was 

 running out, and we would not be able to go home by St. 

 Kilda, as we had hoped, but must make for Killybegs forth- 

 with. So off we went S.S.E> full speed, and are now pounding 

 along through a sea which is getting steadily heavier as the 

 wind rises. 



2.30 P.M., Monday, June 8. Off Sijeve League. — Last 

 night cleared up a bit after all, and we had a good enough 

 night. The evening was spent trying to catch Fulmars with 

 a line, but unsuccessfully. This morning we awoke in a 

 calmer sea, and at breakfast time Aranmore, off the Donegal 

 coast, was sighted. We bore in for the huge stack of Tor- 

 more, under the high ridge of Slieveatooey. A fine morning 

 at last ; wind still fresh, N.W., but it dropped as we approached 

 land, and the sun shone out gloriously. We passed close 

 under the grand cliffs of Mullaghtan and Glen Head, between 

 the low island of Rathlin O'Birne and the mainland, and are 

 now gliding in calm blue water under Slieve League, which 

 looks magnificent in the clear air and brilliant sunshine. 

 Being too late to catch train to Dublin to-night, we are running 

 south to have a couple of hours on Inismurray, preparatory to 

 spending the night at Killybegs. A sad accident has just 



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