254 



FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



could have entered the dock without the slightest danger." The ship mas- 

 ters who witnessed the experiment were satisfied with the result. 



Why would it not be well for our fishermen on the Banks, or elsewhere, 

 in some of the terrible gales, to try this experiment ? It has the same effect 

 when poured upon the troubled waters as if pumped or otherwise placed 

 thereon. 



A Remarkable Spectacle. — The steamer Victoria^ at New York from 

 Glasgow, reported witnessing a remarkable spectacle on the eastern edge of 

 Grand Bank, December i8, 1876. During the height of a gale of unusual 

 severity there appeared on the trucks, yards and stays, large balls of fire 

 or phosphorus, strung on the stays or yards at intervals of a foot or two, 

 giving the ship the appearance of being decorated with Chinese lanterns, 

 only more brilliant ; they settled on the vessel like a shower of meteors, and 

 disappeared almost as suddenly as they appeared, an occasional one drop- 

 ping from the yards, bursting with a loud report ; one of them fell and burst 

 almost in the face of the chief officer, making a noise like a small piece of 

 artillery, but causing no more inconvenience than dazzling him for the 

 moment. 



[CHINESE HOUSE-BOAT.] 



