104 A DATS GROUND-FISHING. 



of other monsters of unknown magnitude. This digression 

 may, I trust, be pardoned, on account of its utility to would-be 

 fishermen for Hake, Conger, and other huge denizens of old 

 ocean's depths, whose sharp teeth and vice-like power of jaw 

 make such short work of undefended snoodings. 



My friend, his wife (for ladies go sea-fishing on the coast 

 of Devon), and a relative, with myself, now proceed to the 

 beach and bestow ourselves in a boat as desired namely, two 

 on the after thwart and one on the next forward, whilst the 

 writer, as an old hand, is intrusted with an, oar a little in advance 

 of the last mentioned, and stands ready to assist in shoving off 

 as soon as the word is given. A good smooth, as they term it, 

 affording a favourable opportunity, with a shout of * Now, now, 

 now ! ' we glide into the swell, your humble servant assisting 

 the efforts of the fishermen as they leap in over the bows, and 

 continuing so to do until the boat is clear of the landwash, 

 when my friend, his wife, and relative are desired to take their 

 seats in the stern-sheets, and we proceed to trim the boat for 

 our two and a half miles row to windward. 



And now a word or two, en passant, on going afloat from 

 an open beach. 



It is a great matter to make a clean launch, especially 

 if accompanied by ladies, and with ordinary precaution it is 

 easily done without shipping water, which, especially at starting 

 for a day's pleasure, is of all things to be avoided. 



If the beach is steep it is the custom to launch stern fore- 

 most, the boat resting on a way, or skid, of holly or other hard 

 wood, two or three feet from the stern. This keeps the keel 

 out of the shingle, thereby preventing any check to her down- 

 ward progress until the stern is water-borne, which object is 

 facilitated by allowing no one to sit further aft than the after 

 thwart, as mentioned on the present occasion. The stern is 

 thus allowed to rise immediately it feels the swell, which it will 

 not do if the passengers crowd aft, as the boat is thereby de- 

 prived of its buoyancy where and when it is most needed, and 

 the stern caused to dip under the swell, deluging all the after 

 part of the boat with water, to the discomfort and annoyance of 

 all on board. On a flat beach, however, or one of a less steep 



