Vlll THE CALL OF THE SEA 



was found compatible with other considerations. 

 Otherwise, a volume of the same bulk, and 

 approximately of the same range, might without 

 great difficulty have been compiled from the 

 voluminous writings of either writer. 



The Call of the Sea has a more than abstract 

 meaning for one in whose ears it sings all through 

 the year, and the garnering of these extracts 

 within a hundred yards of its surf has lent enjoy- 

 ment to the task, which has been indeed no task, 

 but a recreation. In its original form, the collection 

 was to have included poetry, but this was antici- 

 pated by the admirable "Sailor's Garland" of 

 Mr. Masefield, who has for the time being most 

 generously dropped anchor in a large prose sister 

 ship that my little craft may have the fair-way to 

 herself. 



To the publishers, and in many cases also to 

 the authors, named in the following list, I owe my 

 thanks for permission to make use of the material 

 included in the book, and my gratitude must take 

 a more personal turn when I recall the kind 

 assistance and encouragement given to me by Mr. 

 Hilaire Belloc, M.P., Mr. Frank Bullen, Mr. Robert 

 Hichens, Mr. Rudyard Kipling, Mr. Eden Phill- 

 potts, Mr. Morley Roberts, Mr. Clark Russell, Mr. 

 Basil Soulsby (Hon. Sec. to the Hakluyt Society, 

 with permission to use many extracts from its 

 valuable reprints), and Mr. H. G. Wells. 



