FRESH-HALIBUT FISHERY. 73 



foresail and took the bonnet out of the jib. We sounded at this Lonr on the southwest part of 

 Banquereau in 70 fathoms. After the jib and reefed foresail were set, we steered W. by S., and at 

 9 a. m. sounded on the Western Bank in 52 fathoms. It has been cold during the past night and 

 this morning, and the vessel has made considerable ice. At 10 o'clock a. m. we saw two vessels at 

 anchor to leeward. At noon we shook the reef out of the foresail. At 2.30 p. m. turned the reef out 

 of the mainsail and put the bonnet in the jib. The sky at this time was dark and overcast; barom- 

 eter 30. At 5 p. m. I sent a man aloft to lash the backstay outriggers to the after cross trees, and 

 then we set the staysail. An hour later we sprung the topmast, at the mast-hole below the cap, 

 and took the stay-sail in. At 7.30 it was rnoderate-aud we set the gaff-topsail. It still continued 

 cold. If I had thought, when we passed those vessels, that it would have moderated so soon, I 

 should have stopped and had a try for halibut; it is now too late to repent. 



Sunday, March 17, 1878. This morning was fine and clear, with a moderate breeze, which was 

 gradually backing to the westward, and with some indications of a southerly wind. At 9 a. m. we 

 tacked to the northwest, and having previously put a lashing around our topmast, where it was 

 sprung, we set the staysail. Our position at noon by observation was 42 40' north latitude, and 61 

 39' west longitude. Longitude at 4 p. m., 62 05' W. There was a light breeze WSW. in the after- 

 noon, and St. Patrick's day has been the only fine one that we have seen since March came in. 



Monday, March 18, 1878. At 4 a. m. the wind was SE. by E., breezing up fast and accompanied 

 by rain. We took in the light sails. At 7 a. m. the wind was ESE., blowing heavy in the rain-squalls. 

 We took in the mainsail, reefed and furled it. At 11.30 a. m. there was less wind, and we set the 

 whole mainsail. At noon the wind veered some to the southward, but soon died away almost calm, 

 leaving the sea all up in heaps. All we could do was to keep right before the sea. Fortunately 

 we could do this and still be on our course. After 2 o'clock the sun caine out bright and clear. I 

 got a set of altitudes of the sun and worked them out by "Sumner's method." At 4 p. m. latitude 

 42 42' N., longitude 65 22' W. In the last part of this p. m. there was a brisk southwest breeze. 



Tuesday, March 19, 1878. At 3.30 a m. the wind came from the northward and there were 

 indications of a strong breeze. We clewed up the gaff-topsail. There was a good whole sail breeze 

 all the forenoon, but about noon it moderated and began to back to the westward. We set the 

 gaff-topsail at noon. Latitude by meridian observation, 42 56' N. At 2 p. m. the wind was W. 

 and we tacked and stood to the northward. At 2.30 p. m. there was a moderate breeze W. 

 by S., and we set the staysail. Barometer at this time 29.70. At 4 p. m. I got an observation and 

 found our longitude to be 68 12' W. During the latter part of this p. m. the wind was light and 

 variable. 



Wednesday, March 20, 1878. At 3 a. m. we made Matinicus Rock lights, and a few minutes 

 later we saw Monhegan light. At 6.40 we tacked between Matiuicus and Monhegan. There was 

 a fresh breeze NW. by W. at this time, and I noticed that the barometer had fallen considerably 

 since last night. At 9 a. m. we passed to the northward of Monhegan. There was a strong 

 whole sail breeze from NW. at this time. From Mouhegan to Cape Elizabeth, which we passed 

 12 miles to leeward of, the Marion had all she could " smother to," as some of our men remarked. 

 Sometimes in the flaws we had to " light her up," for a minute or two, to shake off the water, and 

 then we would give it to her again. At 3.30 p. m. we could carry it no longer, so we hauled down 

 the mainsail and double-reefed it, and at 4 o'clock, when just to the westward of Cape Elizabeth, 

 we had a very heavy white squall. There was a large coasting schooner to windward, and seeing 

 her douse her canvas gave us a good warning. From the top of the house I saw it coming over 

 the water, rolling up a feather white sheet of foam and spray before it. "Haul down the foresail 

 and put a double reef in it," I shouted out to the men who were waiting for the order. We had. 



