AMONG THE WaATER-FowL 
out over the agitated waters of the harbour-bar, than 
which there is none more dangerous on our coast. 
Then the fiery ball of the sun rose from the ocean, 
dispelling the morning mist, and drying the cold, 
wet decks of the fishing-fleet. Off to the south-east 
we sped, crossing the track of various coasting- 
vessels four or five miles off shore, losing sight of 
land a dozen miles out, and yet pressing on, till, 
after about four hours’ sail, we were some twenty- 
five miles off the Cape. Here dwelt the denizens 
of the deep. Majestic among them all were the 
Finback Whales, a band of which were playing 
about, as though for our special amusement. Sev- 
eral times a great fellow emerged so close to us as 
to alarm even the fisherman. It wasa most impres- 
sive sight, as the water rushed with thundering roar 
from the great back, and the spout of white spray 
accompanied the mighty outbreathing—<« the blast 
of the terrible ‘ones .)--.. | as"asstonmeagaimsiiwe 
wall.” Great swells lifted and tossed the sloop, so 
prostrating one of our number with the sickness 
of .the sea, that he could hardly, be -sinducedsaaa- 
he lay torpid and miserable on deck, to even raise 
his head and see a Whale that rose within fifty 
yards of us. 
We all set to work with the lines, and soon 
great flopping Cod, Hake and Haddock were 
rapidly filling the “ kids,” or lockers. And around 
us gathered the feathered wanderers of the ocean 
floor. About six miles out the first one had ap- 
peared, a rather large bird with dark back and white 
breast, that, with a peculiar gliding flight, on long, 
narrow wings which it held slightly decurved at the 
98 
