A FISH CREW. 367 



traded den, about six by ten feet. Its center ivag 

 completely occupied by a table, from wL ,ch all 

 hands partook of their food. Locker-seats ranged 

 along the side, fitted tc this table. A rjw of 

 shelves and a box compass and quadrant fill one 

 end; a small coal stove and the hatch ladder, the 

 other. A sky-light overhead gives necessary 

 light. The whole smells villainously of decayed 

 fish. 



The hold is filled with barrels, some empty, 

 aome full of water, used as ballast. The deck 

 contains naught but a bait-mill, a barrel of bait, 

 and some strike barrels which it is hoped we shall 

 shortly fill with mackerel. 



The crew were a set of genuine Cape men. I 

 was the only " stranger " on board. The rest 

 were all born and bred fishermen : quick moving, 

 nervous men in fact, although they seemed, when 

 unexcited, slow enough to please the most lym- 

 phatic Hollander. Our captain was a tall, portly 

 man, blue eyed but dark complexioned, and of a 

 fair presence. He was reputed as he afterward 

 proved himself the most skillful fisherman on 

 board. His lines and jigs were fitted with the 

 most scrupulous nicety. He had a set for every 

 kind of weather we were likely to experience, 

 from the large line and heavy jig to be used only 

 on fish-days or in rough weather, to th-j most del- 

 icate fly-lines, with minute hooks and jigs, with 

 which to tempt the daintiest of mackerel on 

 smooth days. 



