48 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



according to the depth and the currents. I 

 found that at first I took all the skin off my 

 hands from the weight, and hauling up of the 

 wet line, and they became so sore and tender I 

 could scarcely use them. However, I deter- 

 mined to persevere, which I did, and soon got 

 them all right. 



The next day was fine, and at nine a.m. we 

 started in the "Fearless," commanded by the 

 gallant though unveracious Captain Tar Bucket. 

 A lad and myself composed the rest of the crew. 

 My friend was not able to join us, as business 

 kept him chained to his desk. We were pro- 

 visioned, watered, and grogged, for four or five 

 days. Not that we had any intention of re- 

 maining out so long, but we deemed it better to 

 be on the safe side. 



We commenced our trawling operations off 

 Gorey, on the east of the island, and had pretty 

 good luck, catching some soles, plaice, and 

 various other species of flat fish, with a few of 

 the much-coveted " scuttle." As there were 

 plenty of other boats about on the same errand, 

 I managed to buy some more baits from them, 

 and " made tracks" on the turn of the tide for 



