AMONG THE WATER-FOWL 



out over the agitated waters of the harbour-bar, than 

 which there is none more dangerous on our coast. 

 Then the fiery ball of the sun rose from the ocean, 

 dispelling the morning mist, and drying the cold, 

 wet decks of the fishing-fleet. Off to the south-east 

 we sped, crossing the track of various coasting- 

 vessels four or five miles off shore, losing sight of 

 land a dozen miles out, and yet pressing on, till, 

 after about four hours' sail, we were some twenty- 

 five miles off the Cape. Here dwelt the denizens 

 of the deep. Majestic among them all were the 

 Finback Whales, a band of which were playing 

 about, as though for our special amusement. Sev- 

 eral times a great fellow emerged so close to us as 

 to alarm even the fisherman. It was a most impres- 

 sive sight, as the water rushed with thundering roar 

 from the great back, and the spout of white spray 

 accompanied the mighty outbreathing " the blast 

 of the terrible ones . . V ras a storm against the 

 wall." Great swells lifted and tossed the sloop, so 

 prostrating one of our number with the sickness 

 of the sea, that he could hardly be induced, as 

 he lay torpid and miserable on deck, to even raise 

 his head and see a Whale that rose within fifty 

 yards of us. 



We all set to work with the lines, and soon 

 great flopping Cod, Hake and Haddock were 

 rapidly filling the " kids/' or lockers. And around 

 us gathered the feathered wanderers of the ocean 

 floor. About six miles out the first one had ap- 

 peared, a rather large bird with dark back and white 

 breast, that, with a peculiar gliding flight, on long, 

 narrow wings which it held slightly decurved at the 



Q8 



