DEVIL FISHING. 25 



At six o'clock on Wednesday, the 16th August, 

 we started from Bay Point on our cruise for devil- 

 fish. In my boat, manned by six oarsmen and a 

 steersman, I was accompanied by my son, a youth 

 under eighteen. In the second boat were G. P. E., 

 and W. C., Esqrs., with a crew of four men. The 

 .armament of the larger consisted, besides the har- 

 poon, of a lance, hatchet, and rifle ; that of the 

 smaller boat, was two bayonets fixed in long 

 staves (the line which was to have been rigged to 

 a second harpoon, having been swept away with 

 a sharp hook attached, by an overwhelming spring 

 tide the night before). We stretched away before 

 a fresh northeaster, for the Bay gall on Hilton 

 Head, and then struck sail and made all snug for 

 action. Masts, sails, awnings, were all stowed 

 away in the bottom of the boat, the anchor with 

 its rope, was transferred to the platform for i/rim, 

 and that nothing should interfere with our running 

 gear. Here a large shoal of porpoises came plun- 

 ging about us ; the harpoon was poised, but none 

 came within striking distance ; and after being tan- 

 talized by this show of unexpected sport, a rifle 

 shot among them sent them booming off, and left 

 us leisure to pursue our proper game. 



We rowed slowly along between the Bay gall 

 breaker and the shore, on the early ebb, expecting 



