4 MARKS AND HOW TO TAKE THEM. 



added to which he stows himself abaft the after-thwart to eat, 

 drink, and yes, oh ! climax of effeminacy ! to have his hooks 

 baited ! 



MARKS AND How TO TAKE THEM. 



Fishermen, from time immemorial, have, in the exercise of 

 their vocation namely, in trawling, dredging, setting Crab and 

 Lobster pots, hand or long-line fishing discovered certain 

 ' grounds,' as they are termed, frequented by different varieties 

 of fish, according to the nature of the bottom. It was of course 

 desirable that these discoveries should not be lost ; fishermen, 

 therefore, have contrived methods of taking 'marks,' that these 

 positions may be revisited when required. A boat or vessel is 

 placed in any one of these positions by aid of two imaginary 

 lines drawn from objects on shore, and crossing each other at 

 the said boat or vessel. Two objects are chosen for each 

 imaginary line, which two objects being seen on with, or over 

 each other in one direction, and two other objects being 

 seen likewise over each other in another direction, the 

 position of any particular fishing-ground may be determined 

 with facility, and revisited as occasion may require. As great 

 precision is necessary in some kinds of fishing, the marks 

 selected should not be too close to each other, neither should 

 the lines of direction be too oblique. If too close together, 

 their relative positions will not appear to alter rapidly enough 

 to enable you to detect a change in the position of the boat 

 instantly, and the result will be similar if the lines of direction 

 are too oblique, because you will be too long passing the 

 intersection of the cross bearings. Some degree of obliquity 

 is generally unavoidable ; but where a choice of objects exists, 

 select those which will afford you as near an approach as 

 possible to a right angle, or, as fishermen term it, take your 

 marks ' upon the square.' By adhering to these cautions, your 

 marks will be ' quick marks,' as they are called, and if well 

 selected will alter even by turning your head right or left. The 

 smaller the objects, the nearer they may be to each other ; the 

 larger they are, the greater should be the distance between 

 them. If the distant object be of considerable magnitude, 



