234 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



the seas that lie between Billingsgate and the fishing- 

 grounds. From day to day, week to week, month to 

 month, and year to year, ceaselessly, monotonously, the 

 carriers ply their calling and the skippers and their crews 

 fulfil their destiny as surely as did Vanderdecken and 

 his spectral band. 



Just as steadily as Scotch expresses keep up their 

 communication between the north and Euston, St. 

 Pancras and King's Cross, so the valiant little carriers 

 form an ever-running link between the London market 

 and the toiling fleets that scour the banks ; but while in 

 the one case there are well-laid, firm, costly, and cease- 

 lessly inspected tracks, in the other there is nothing but 

 the turgid, troubled sea. The " Flying Scotchman " has 

 his permanent way, his signals, his stopping-places, his 

 every detail scheduled out for him. The driver steps 

 upon the footplate, his fireman with him, and he knows 

 that, God and accidents permitting, he will reach York, 

 Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, or other 

 distant destination safely and on time. 



Not so the carrier's skipper. If he is bound for 

 London River he is serene of mind, for he knows that 

 he will find London River and Billingsgate where he 

 left them, barring cataclysms and perhaps fires and alien 

 risings. Gales may blow and seas may crash on board ; 

 oversea boats may wallow and heave to in the roaring 

 smother ; liners may hesitate and slow down ; coasters 

 may shelter and anchor, or not put to sea at all but the 

 carrier neither slackens speed nor falters. 



Who ever heard of a North Sea carrier taking count 

 of weather even North Sea weather ? What is she 

 built for but to drive through gales? Why is her 



