FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



215 



A Mackerel Catcher Dressing Her Fare by Moonlight. 



^^ The accompanying engraving illus- 

 trates a mackerel catcher whose crew 

 were so fortunate as to strike a school 

 of fine, fat mackerel, just before sun- 

 '■== down. The boys were all alive for 

 such sport, and handled the seine-boat 

 1==^=^ and net lively, securing "heavy decks." 

 j The steward had plenty of hot coffee 

 and "Joe floggers" on hand for just 

 such a lucky strike, and kept the crew 

 well supplied with these refreshments. 

 The moon had risen just as they got 

 their catch- on deck, and with a will 

 they turned to and dressed all night. 

 It was a lively time, splitting, gibbing, 

 soaking them out, salting and barrel- 

 ling, and the vessel, with a light wind, 

 pursued her course for old Gloucester, where they got a quick pack out, and 

 replenishing with salt and stores, were soon off again, as every day in the 

 mackereling season counts, and the fishermen like to make the most of it. 



Frightened by the Moon. 



BY DICK SKYLIGHT. 



Friday, May 16, 1879, we were running across the Bay of Fundy, bound 

 to Nova Scotia for bait. It was foggy, but not very thick, the first of the 

 morning, and at three o'clock the man on the lookout sang out, "Light 

 ahead!" The man at the wheel shouted back the inquiry, "What shall I 

 do — luff or keep off?" "Luff! luff hard!!" came the answer from the 

 lookout. 



By this time I was out of my bunk, and had jumped into the companion- 

 way just as the lookout ran aft, exclaiming, "Give me the horn ! " I stepped 

 back into the cabin to get it, and giving him one horn, took another with 

 me on deck, blowing a blast myself before I stopped to look. The lookout 

 said, "I think it's a steamer's masthead light." 



