WHIPPINGS, SERVINGS, KNOTS, ETC 85 



shops, but of the homespun material produced in the crofters' 

 cottages of the west of Scotland. It contains the natural oil 

 and has wonderful wet-resisting properties. 



Thanks to years of experience, sailors and fishermen have 

 found out what is best to wear on the sea, and in copying their 

 oilskin, sou'-westers, and double-breasted pilot jackets you 

 will be doing a wise thing. Indiarubber boots, felt lined, are 

 very comfortable on a wet, cold, autumn day in an open boat ; 

 though not very nice things to swim in should you be upset. 

 They want propping open with short pieces of stick on going 

 ashore, and carefully drying inside. Perhaps a better arrange- 

 ment is two pairs of stockings and an unlined indiarubber 

 knee-boot ; the felt is certainly the warmer and more comfort- 

 able, but the stockings, which get moist from perspiration, can 

 more easily be dried than the felt, and can moreover be washed. 

 In winter, sea fishermen often wear over their socks and trousers 

 a pair of large oily stockings, and over these again their long 

 sea boots. Thick gloves without fingers are almost a necessity 

 during the bitter winter weather which is experienced in the 

 North Sea. 



On some parts of the coast the oilskin coats are fitted with 

 strings instead of buttons, the men finding that in winter a reef- 

 knot is much more easily undone than are button and button- 

 hole. P'or saltwater work I much prefer oilskins to any form 

 of mackintosh. 



Never judge of the temperature at sea by the mildness of the 

 air on shore. It is nearly always more or less chilly when we 

 get a mile or two from the land if any breeze is blowing. One 

 learns by experience, and I am quite ready to run the risk of 

 being called an 'old woman ' for advising all would-be sea fishers, 

 if they will not heed my warning as to dressing warmly, at 

 least to take plenty of wraps with them when they go down to 

 the sea in boats. 



