358 WHALING AND FISHING 



He was a man of infinite patience. In a calm 

 he would lean over the rail for hours at a time, 

 once in a while hauling in a huge mackerel, while 

 the others were lounging idly about decks, OP if 

 at the rail at all, were inattentive to their lines. 

 D is exhortations to others to attend to the fish, 

 were ceaseless, while fish were along side. 



" Now they bite, boys ; here's a spirt ! " he 

 would cry whenever, by unusual wariness, he 

 succeeded in capturing a mackerel. Then would 

 follow a rush to the rail, a few moments of breath- 

 less attention, and finally, " now they don't bite, 

 boys," from some disappointed lounger, as he fell 

 back upon the deck or hatchway. Such was " the 

 skipper," and a better man could not be found tc 

 command a fishing vessel. 



