FISHING STATIONS— ENGLAND. 239 



up the piles and left the apparently sinking lugger was 

 conspicuous, and perhaps, under the circumstances, not 

 altogether inexcusable. 



The fishing boats, having once entered the haven, 

 proceed upwards for nearly half a mile to the wholesale 

 fish-market, which is a long covered structure facing 

 the river. It has been erected during the last few 

 years, and is conveniently situated for its purpose, as 

 the fishing boats can lie alongside and discharge their 

 cargoes into the market without the necessity for any 

 land carriage. There is also plenty of unoccupied 

 room along the bank of the haven for the extension of 

 the market if it should be required. 



When it is not convenient or practicable for the 

 luggers to enter the haven, they come to anchor off the 

 beach in front of the town, and the fish are landed in 

 " ferry boats." This used at one time to be the regular 

 practice. These ferry boats are large open boats, 

 strongly built, and with plenty of room in them ; they 

 are worked by a class of persons well known there as 

 " beachmen," who, besides being employed in landing 

 the fish, have the more exciting occupation of manning 

 the famous Yarmouth yawls to give assistance to the 

 many vessels which make too close an acquaintance 

 with the Scroby Sands and other dangerous shoals in 

 the neighbourhood. The ferry boat takes off with her 

 a considerable number of baskets called " swills," which 

 are peculiar to Yarmouth, and are capable of holding 

 about 500 fair-sized fish each. These baskets are broad 

 and deep at the ends, and are tied in at the centre by a 

 straight wicker-work handle running from one side to 

 the other, making them look very much like two basket 

 panniers joined together. As soon as the ferry boat 

 has received her cargo from the lugger, the fish having 



