202 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



served three years in the Angelina told him that 

 they left Yarmouth with their gear aboard, like an 

 ordinary trawler, and made straight for Nieudiep, in 

 Holland, where they took in ^500 worth of grog 

 and tobacco. She then joined her fleet, and in one 

 voyage alone the cargo would be sold and a profit made 

 of ^500 100 per cent., and that in two months. A 

 bottle of rum was sold for is. 6d., raw brandy at 2s., 

 aniseed brandy dangerous and insidious spirit, and a 

 great favourite with the smacksmen 2s. 3d., and gin 

 at is. 



Such a profit as that at the rate of 600 per cent, 

 yearly was infinitely more than could be made out of 

 the most successful trawling ; but the system of copering, 

 so far as English vessels were concerned, was not to 

 become established or permanent. The danger was 

 recognised in time, and crushed out. The insurance 

 clubs at home made it clear that these smacks were not 

 wanted in the societies, there was opposition from one 

 or two powerful owners, and there was always the peril 

 of falling into the hands of the law and being severely 

 dealt with. The English copers, therefore, ceased to 

 ply their trade in the fleets, and one at least resumed 

 her honest work of fishing. 



First of all, there went to the Dogger, as the pioneer 

 Mission ship, the little Ensign, a 56-ton yawl-rigged 

 craft which had been working with the Short Blue 

 Fleet. She was altered so as to accommodate a 

 missionary and men who cared to go aboard for 

 worship ; and she was provided with a small dispensary, 

 equipped with a medicine-chest. 



The Ensign left Yarmouth to the accompaniment of 



