FBESH HALIBUT FISHERY. 83 



that the vessel was driftiug clear of us, and with the remark, "Oh, he's all right; he'll go clear 

 of us," the crew went below again, all except the watch and myself. I tried to make out what 

 vessel it was, but was unable to. The weather was so thick that, although she drifted by us not 

 more than 150 fathoms distant, I could only see the blur of her hull and spars showing indis- 

 tinctly through the snow and flying spray. I thought at first it was the N. H. Phillips, but 

 afterwards, when the snow lit up, I saw that it was the A. M. Williams, and one, which probably 

 was the Phillips, was also adrift about 2 miles to the eastward of us. 



Barometer at noon 29.45, and indications of a sudden change of wind. At 12.30 p. m. the 

 wind struck in a squall from the westward, but it diil not last long. As soon as it moderated we 

 manned the windlass and began to heave in cable. We had in 100 fathoms of cable at 3 p. m., at 

 which time the wind began to breeze up again and the sky looked wild and squally. The Nelson 

 must have gone adrift, too, for when the weather cleared she could not be seen. 



A little land bird (a snow bunting) came aboard this afternoon. As an evidence of the 

 strength of wing possessed by these little creatures it is only necessary to mention that the nearest 

 land is Cape Freels, Newfoundland, 128 miles distant. 



The southeaster and westerly squall left the sea all up in heaps, which, with the squally 

 appearance of the weather, made it extremely hazardous, if not foolhardy, to attempt to get any 

 of our trawls. After we got the cable stradded up, &c.. at 4 p. m. we hoisted out a dory to go 

 and look for the inner buoys. Three men went in her, who were told to see how many inner buoys 

 they could find, and to lift them out of the water and see if the buoy -lines were chafed, &c. Strict 

 orders were also given to them not to go far from the vessel if they valued their lives, for it was liable 

 to blow a gale in fifteen minutes. They saw only two of the inner buoys, which were near the vessel. 

 They also saw some of the other buoys, and disregarding orders, as well as their own safety, pulled 

 out towards them and went quite close to them. They got back again just before dark in the midst 

 of a thick snow squall. Fortunately the wind did not blow very heavy, or in all probability these 

 men would have had a narrow chance to save their lives. It was taking too much risk for nothing, 

 and it can be said of them that they are of that class whose courage can be more commended than 

 their judgment. 



At 6 p. m. it was nearly calm, and we hove in to a short scope, for I feared our cable might 

 chafe on the bottom. Just as we got through heaving a puff struck NNB., but lasted only a 

 short time. Barometer at 6 p. m., 29.25. The Williams spoke us at 7.15, and we ran down to where 

 she was this morning and anchored. I saw her riding light at 7.45. At 8 p. m. the wind struck 

 in a very heavy squall N. by W. This was what I had been expecting. We mustered on deck in 

 a hurry, and stuck out nearly the whole string of cable. By the time we had the cable out, the 

 wind, which was gaining in force, began to screech, and all the latter part of this p. m. it blew 

 a hurricane N. by E., with dense snow. We had two men in a watch, one stationed on the fore- 

 gafi' and the other on the main, so as to be out of the way if the vessel shipped a sea. In this 

 way the men kept the best lookout they could. But looking to windward is hardly possible in such 

 a gale^ with the snow, sleet, and spray driving furiously to leeward and nearly blinding whoever 

 turns his face to windward. But the attempt must be made, for in such a gale there is imminent 

 danger of some other vessels driving down across our hawse, and if these should not be seen in 

 time for us to cut the cable, and thus prevent a collision, both would sink. One or the other of the 

 watch occasionally comes below to look at the clock and ascertain how the time is passing, and 

 also to get his breath. As they brush the snow and' iV^zen spray from their eyes, hair, and beard, 

 they often remark, " I tell yer what 'tis, this is a toug xe. If this haint a regular old-fash- 

 ioned screamer I never saw on." They are, hc^^cr confi<H^ r the ability of the vessel to ride 



