284 T7/6- Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



returned in the morning ; that the fish were all 

 packed in hampers holding one hundred fish each, 

 and were sold by auction ; that, as this auction could 

 not be held on each boat separately, an average had 

 to be taken from a few samples as well as time 

 allowed, for that all had to be aboard of the steamer 

 by the time of her sailing; and that a special train 

 at Penzance awaited the arrival of the steamer, to 

 hurry away with its cargo to the central markets ; for 

 these enamelled silvery-gleaming fishes ill brook any 

 prolonged delay between leaving the water and serving 

 for the food of mankind. 



Brady and Robertson went in good time on board 

 the boat which was to start for the Scilly Isles at six, 

 but there was no special need for punctuality, since 

 it did not actually start till after seven. There were 

 passengers to be waited for. The captain was fretting 

 and fuming, but all his signals were of no avail till 

 it suited the convenience of the superior of the Scilly 

 Isles, with some members of his household, to embark. 

 So fine a thing it is to be a sovereign, on however 

 small a scale ! 



On this excursion the two explorers were fortunate 

 in getting a good boat, well suited for their purpose, 

 which was far from being a matter of course in these 

 expeditions. They also had the assistance of two 

 good men who understood their work. Contrary to 

 their general custom, they used a sail, but this was of 

 no great consequence, as they were only working with 

 the small seven-inch dredge. 



By coming to a great distance from their former 

 hunting-grounds, they had hoped and expected to 



