238 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



the town, and enters the sea on tlie south side, forming 

 what is called the Haven. This entrance, although 

 protected by two long and costly piers, is often difficult 

 and dangerous for vessels to pass through, owing to the 

 rapid stream setting out of the river at ebb tide ; and if, 

 at the same time, the wind be blowing strongly in, a 

 heavy sea frequently breaks on the bar just where the 

 edge of the river water is felt as it turns off northward, 

 and escapes under the wooden pier on that side. In 

 attempting to enter the haven under these circum- 

 stances the greatest care is necessary, therefore, to 

 avoid being caught by the stream and carried away 

 against the piles ; and on such occasions a man is 

 stationed at the end of the south pier, and signals with 

 a black ball to the fishing boats which may be coming 

 in (Plate XL), directing them how to steer so as to run 

 in on the safe side of the entrance, where there is more 

 or less slack water. All precautions, however, are 

 sometimes unavailing, and we have seen one of the 

 luggers struck by a heavy breaker, making her broacli- 

 to, and sending her flying across the entrance appa- 

 rently to inevitable destruction against the piles. The 

 coolness of her master and her quick obedience to 

 the helm saved her, however, by a few inches from the 

 expected crash ; and although much knocked about as 

 she wildly dashed alongside the pier, and half filled 

 with water by the tide pressing her against the piles, 

 and nearly capsizing her, she was soon securely made 

 fast, and ultimately warped off to a place of safety 

 without having sustained very serious damage. We 

 have previously mentioned that the crews of these 

 drift-boats are largely made up of men who are not 

 professional sailors or fishermen ; and in this instance 

 the alacrity with which the evident landsmen climbed 



