76 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



from the many vessels and steamers passing through 

 the roads, as well as from the numerous fishing 

 vessels belonging to the port. There are three piers, 

 and, during the season, the usual bathing-machines 

 and pleasure-boats. At the height of the season the 

 visitors number from twenty to thirty thousand ; and, 

 in addition to the regular season, there is a quieter 

 one extending up to Christmas. From its exposed 

 easterly situation, the coast of Great Yarmouth is 

 subject to fierce storms, especially during the winter 

 months, when wrecks are frequent and lives lost are 

 many : happily many are also saved through the cour- 

 age of the life-boat crews. But it is while following 

 their dangerous occupation far out in the North Sea 

 that our fishermen run their greatest risks, and where 

 so many lives are swallowed up by the cruel waves. 



" But men must work and women must weep, 

 Though storms be sudden and waters deep." 



In 1877 eighteen fishing vessels and 116 souls were 

 lost in a single storm, leaving 118 children, 55 widows, 

 and 12 aged parents unprovided for. 



" For men must work and women must weep, 

 And there's little to earn and many to keep." 



A special fund was raised, which was nobly con- 

 tributed to by London, to meet the severity of this 

 loss. There is a small permanent fund invested for 

 the benefit of the dependent survivors of those fisher- 

 men who have subscribed to it, but these only 

 number some 300. The Mayor of the town is the 

 chairman, and Mr. G. T. Watson, manager of the 



