FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK, 



99 



All of the vessels secured good fares of halibut, and some made large 

 stocks. The rough experience of some of the fleet in the ice was apparent 

 on their return home, when it could be seen that the planking at the water's 

 edge was badly chafed and cut, in some cases necessitating repairs. 



A funny incident occurred one evening on board of our vessel, during the 

 fog-mull to which allusion has been made, when a man of undoubted pluck 

 and hardihood literally got scared at his own shadow. Sometime during 

 the day the fog had lifted for a short time, disclosing to our view a number 

 of French brigs and barques slowly working their way along the ice towards 

 St. Pierre. The fog soon shut down again, and the moonless and starless 

 night was as black as pitch. Having obtained a good catch of halibut in 

 the afternoon, we were busily engaged in dressing them until quite late in 

 the evening. Owing to the darkness a light had to be held for each "scrub- 

 gang" so that the "scrubber" could be sure that the fish were properly 

 cleaned. I was holding the lantern for one gang, standing inboard and 

 close to the scrubber, who, busily employed in his work, stood in a stooping 

 position facing aft. Suddenly he .straightened up and (possibly with the- 

 French vessels in mind) cast a quick look out on the port side into the 

 dense fog, upon which his shadow, reflected from the light behind him, 

 stood out like a huge dark spectre. " Keep off ! keep off ! " he shouted, 

 with a voice like a Stentor, while the hearty laugh of the rest of the party 

 immediately followed his last cry. We knew at once what he had seen, and. 

 he comprehended the situation, too, as soon as he had a chance to think. 

 "What are you hailing your shadow for, Tom ? " some one asked. " Did yoa 

 think it was going to run you down ? " " My God ! " he exclaimed in reply, 

 " I thought it was a Frenchman, and it seemed to me that the jibboom was 

 going to be run down my throat." 



