I NT ROD UCTOR Y 2 1 



heavy to row, and the tide is against us, what is to be done ? 

 Obviously nothing but to wait for the turn of the tide or the 

 return of the breeze. As this wait may be of some duration, to 

 have a reasonable supply of food and water on board when 

 going more than a mile or two from land is always a wise thing. 

 I was once myself reduced to considering whether there was any 

 satisfaction to be obtained out of the end of a composite candle, 

 supposing my hunger increased, for that was all we had on 



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board. Water-barrels therefore, in my opinion, should always 

 be carried on expeditions made under sail, and if there are a 

 couple of loaves placed on board to meet any emergency, so 

 much the better. It is wonderful how good plain water and dry 

 bread taste after a long fast. 



Those who are well acquainted with rivers and the peculiar 

 workings of running water will find in the sea I am not 

 speaking of the ocean, but of the channels between England 

 and France and the like all the characteristics of a river, on a 

 large scale. There will be slack water at the sides, particularly 

 in bays, strong streams, or races, off headlands, and enormous 

 eddies on one side of such headlands. Where the sea is shal- 

 low or narrow the currents will probably be stronger than where 

 it is deep or wide. As in rivers, also, the colour of the water 

 wall depend in a great measure on the nature of the bottom. 

 On rocky coasts, such as Cornwall and Wales and the north- 

 west coast of Scotland, the sea is brilliantly clear and takes the 

 most lovely reflected lights, according to the condition of the 

 sky and atmosphere. Where the water is so very bright, and 

 a greenish tinge is noticed, the bottom may be sandy ; a purple 

 colour indicating dark rocks, covered or not with seaweed. 

 This very clear water is by no means favourable to successful 

 sea fishing, except with fine tackle, or on moderately rough 

 days, or at night. After a storm, the water near the coast on 

 which the waves have been beating may be slightly thickened 



