LIBERTY DAT — AND AFTER. 175 



Arctic work. But if we made a good season on the 

 Japan grounds, we should not go north, but gradually 

 work down the Pacific again, on the other side, cruising 

 as we went. 



Day after day went by without any fresh capture 

 or even sight of fish, until I began to believe that the 

 stories I had heard of the wonderful fecundity of the 

 Coast of Japan waters were fables without foundation, 

 in fact. Had I known what sort of fishing our next 

 bout would be, I should not have been so eager to sight 

 whales again. If this be not a platitude of the worst 

 kind, I don't know the meaning of the word ; but, after 

 all, platitudes have their uses, especially when you want 

 to state a fact baldly. 



