IN THE DAYS OF SAIL 91 



ness, but in an unexpected and amazing way, for an 

 enormous sea lifted up his smack bodily and carried 

 her safely over the outer pier and dumped her down 

 in harbour. They called the skipper Mad Isaac, and 

 his wonderful achievement was numbered with the 

 thrilling records of the old frequenters of the 

 "platform." 



Not far from the " platform " was, and is, a bend or 

 elbow in the pier, which is called John Donkin's Bight. 

 John was a comrade fit for Mad Isaac. He was a 

 fearnought who fought his way out of harbour in his 

 coble when no other man would venture ; and, seeking 

 the shelter of the bend, he would lie in wait for pilotage 

 or salvage. So it happened that the spot became 

 known as John Donkin's Bight, and that is the name 

 by which old North Sea men still speak of it. 



There are so many different classes of workers on 

 the North Sea that these peculiarities in describing fish 

 and things are naturally only understood by the men 

 who are specially associated with them, just as 

 "flithers" is a word peculiar to the Yorkshire coast 

 and certain parts at that or " buckfanning " to a 

 particular locality in that county. " Flithers " is another 

 term for the limpets which are gathered on the cliffs 

 by buxom women, for use as bait by husbands, or 

 brothers, sons or sweethearts. I suppose the day 

 is not very far distant when you cannot wander down 

 the shore or on the cliffs in winter and watch these 

 fine specimens of womanhood, these "flithers women," 

 plying their simple calling, having walked miles with 

 their empty baskets, and having to walk miles more 

 when the baskets are full. These are the wives, 



