THE FISHING INDUSTRY. 4 I I 



sleep. The two boys of the crew take the first watch, 

 one at the bow, the other at the stern. It is about eleven 

 o'clock and all are tired out. The five hours until four 

 o'clock in the morning are divided into eight watches, so 

 that no one has to keep awake very long. 



The second hand or mate takes the morning watch, and 

 at four o'clock, just as the first gray streak of day is 

 breaking the night off from the eastern rim of the ocean, 

 he steps to the companion way and stamps upon the deck 

 three times, saying, " All hands ahoy ! Up mainsail ! " 



The crew turns out, all stiff, and the chilly air strikes 

 to the bones and marrow. Now, if ever, a good warm 

 breakfast would be welcome ; but think what an apology 

 we must have. There is no stove, only an old-fashioned 

 fireplace in the little cabin. If the fire is lost it must 

 be made in the clumsy tinder-box fashion, for friction 

 matches were not introduced here till 1838. 



The tinder is some black burnt linen kept dry in a 

 horn. A piece of flint is struck with an old steel file 

 until a spark falls into the tinder. This spark lights the 

 tinder and burns until a sliver of wood with a sulphur tip 

 is ignited by it, when the tinder spark is crushed out and 

 the burning sulphur match lights a fire of charcoal in the 

 fireplace. 



Every one has to cook for himself, and the one who 

 makes the fire is rewarded by having the first chance to 

 cook his breakfast. If there are any fish biting, the crew 

 attends first to the business of catching them. 



A pot of tea for all hangs over the fire. The first cook 

 stirs some flour into molasses with a pinch of saleratus and 

 salt, and this batter is cooked in a frying pan greased with 

 a bit of salt pork. The name of this fried batter is " flap- 

 jacks " or "flippers," and they constitute the fisherman's 

 luxury. In about five minutes these are cooked, and the 

 men above hear the welcome shout from the cabin, " Clear 

 fire ! " Then the skipper comes with a handful of spawns 



