250 THE ENGLISH FISHERMEN 



other hand, although the English had some good 

 ships, they could only muster 12,000 seamen; 

 for numbers of small vessels, manned by fisher- 

 men and seagoing people, chiefly from the west 

 coasts, had been either engaged in the Iceland 

 and Ireland fishing fleets, or had been acting as 

 privateers, enriching themselves by plundering 

 the enemy's ships. These were called in as the 

 time of danger approached, to join the admiral's 

 fleet at Spithead. In fact, the naval and fishing 

 services had engaged between them the efficient 

 male inhabitants of the coast towns. In this 

 extremity it was supposed that the home fish- 

 eries would be neglected, as at that time fish 

 formed an important item in the food of the 

 people, and it was feared that this supply would 

 fall short. But this anxiety was found to be 

 unnecessary; and how do you think this was 

 done? The fact is recorded to their honour. 

 The wives and daughters of the absent fisher- 

 men along the western shores undertook this 

 portion of their husbands' labours. They were 

 the mothers of that hardy generation who sailed 

 with Drake round the world, and explored the 

 Polar Ocean with Davis, who gave his name to 

 the Straits in those seas. These fishermen's 



