PRACTICAL HINTS, ETC. 281 



3. If rowed in bow foremost, by towing astern a pig of 

 ballast or large stone, or a large basket, or a canvas bag, 

 termed a ' drogue ' or drag, made for the purpose, the object 

 of each being to hold the boat's stern back, and prevent her 

 being turned broadside to the sea or broaching-to. 



Drogues are in common use by the boatmen on the 

 Norfolk coast ; they are conical- shaped bags of about the same 

 form and proportionate length and breadth as a candle extin- 

 guisher, about two feet wide at the mouth, and four and a half 

 feet long. They are towed with the mouth foremost by a stout 

 rope, a small line, termed a tripping line, being fast to the apex 

 or pointed end. When towed with the mouth foremost they 

 fill with water, and offer considerable resistance, thereby 

 holding back the stern ; by letting go the stouter rope and re- 

 taining the smaller line, their position is reversed, when they 

 collapse, and can be readily hauled into the boat. Drogues 

 are chiefly used in sailing-boats, when they both serve to check 

 a boat's way and to keep her end on to the sea. They are, 

 however, a great source of safety in rowing boats, and many 

 rowing life-boats are now provided with them. 



A boat's sail bent to a yard and towed astern loosed, the 

 yard being attached to a line capable of being veered, hauled, 

 or let go, will act in some measure as a drogue, and will tend 

 much to break the force of the sea immediately astern of 

 the boat. 



Heavy weights should be kept out of the extreme ends of a 

 boat ; but when rowing before a heavy sea, the best trim is 

 deepest by the stern, which prevents the stern being readily 

 beaten off by the sea. A boat should be steered by an oar over 

 the stern or on one quarter when running before a sea, as the 

 rudder will then at times be of no use. The following general 

 rules may therefore be depended on, when running before, 

 or attempting to land, through a heavy surf or broken 

 water: 



1. As far as possible avoid, each sea, by placing the boat 

 where the sea will break ahead of her. 



2. If the sea be very heavy, or if the boat be small, and 

 especially if she have a square stern, bring her bow round to 



