94 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



although one of the men had once picked up a bunch 

 of sea-grapes (eggs of the cuttle-fish), for which a 

 gentleman gave him half-a-cro^vn (a mad gentleman, 

 clearly), these stolid fellows always fell back upon their 

 ignorance. " Ah ! if we only knowed the things." In 

 fact, no bribe mil move them. They cannot realise to 

 themselves the conception that what they have for 

 years thrown away as rubbish can possibly contain 

 anything worth money. I repeatedly urged on them 

 these simple instructions : Bring me anything alive 

 (except fish) that you find in the net, and the chances 

 are that I shall buy it. One Calamary (Loligo) was 

 all that came. 



We have reached the oyster-beds, and the Dredge 

 is dropped into the water, plunging some fifteen or 

 twenty fathoms, like a diver knowing what is required 

 of him. On we sail, the line runnino- out, the dredo-e 

 raking the oyster-beds, and considerably retarding our 

 progress in spite of a stiff breeze. At length it is time 

 to haul in, and the men pull strenuously, till the 

 Dredge appears, and a portentous mass of oyster-shells, 

 dirt, stones, and Sea-Urchins is emptied in the bottom 

 of the boat. We pounce on it, while the Dredge is 

 once more cast into the water. 



Up to this moment we have been suj^erb seamen ; 

 Britons are the boys for ruling the waves ! The colour 

 has not changed on the cheek of the lady naturalist, 

 who, astonished at her own fortitude (of stomach), 

 declares dredging preferable to hunting on the rocks. 

 But suddenly a change comes. This stooping to 



