OIL ON THE TROUBLED WATERS. 169 



boats are thus far from the land in mid-ocean puts the 

 fishermen in utmost peril, and in such circumstances 

 it too often happens that some never reach the shore. 

 Such summer gales are common enough, and although 

 fortunately not usually of long continuance, they are 

 often very severe while they last. Not seldom after 

 the long stretch of lines has been " set," the storm 

 suddenly bursts upon them, so that the fishermen, not 

 having time to haul them in again, are forced to leave 

 them. At other times, about the commencement of 

 the gale, they will have recovered all or a part of them 

 with a large quantity of fish also — mostly ling and 

 cod — for, curiously enough, the best hauls are gene- 

 rally made just before a storm and when the weather 

 is rough. The boat is then properly trimmed, and all 

 made as snug as possible. The sail is closely reefed 

 and hauled up. The skipper takes the helm and also 

 the sheet, which rope is never confided to any hand 

 but the helmsman's. He alone has thus the entire 

 control and management of the craft — if close-hauled 

 or with the wind on her beam, easing her, now with 

 a turn of the helm, now by letting off a few inches of 

 the sheet when a heavier blast than usual occurs, now 

 luffing up and breasting a wave as it breaks close to 

 her bows, now running from another if it looks too 

 near and ugly and threatens to break on the quarter 

 or beam, that it may expend itself astern — as to his 

 experienced eye the emergency may seem to require. 

 A quick eye, a steady hand, coolness and courage, 

 and promptness of judgment, are all needed; for 



