SCHOONER CHANCE $ 



in a bit too near shore in the neighborhood of Egg Island. The wind 

 slackened entirely and we were trying to work off again when just 

 after supper the watch on deck sang out, "Thar she blows!" All 

 hands came scrambling up on deck and there, right under our bow, 

 was a school of small black-fish, about sixty animals in all. After 

 talking for the last two days about what we would do, of course 

 nothing was ready. Terry, John, and Bob piled into the row-boat 

 followed by a shower of harpoons and lines. Before they knew it 

 they were right in the middle of the school. Seveial came up so close 

 that they could be reached with an oar. It was almost ten minutes 

 before the harpoons could be rigged and the line cleared. Meanwhile 

 the fish had separated into three groups. Because of the sea which 

 was very lumpy it was impossible to stand in the bow of the skiff. 

 The harpoon was thrown four times and each time the iron slid off 

 the animal's back. Since they had only taken one pair of oars it was 

 impossible to get closer than about lo feet and the pole was too light 

 to imbed the iron. We hung around in the schooner watching and it 

 certainly was a great sight. Because of the swell we could not see 

 them at all part of the time, but every once in a while the pole 

 would go flying through the air followed by a splash of the animal. 

 They signaled for us to pick them up after about half an hour, being 

 completely exhausted. Considering how makeshift their gear was it 

 is just as well that they did not catch on to one. We ran all night 

 under power. 



( Position Off Cape. Breton Island 

 Thursday, July 8th < Weather Very clear 



I Wind Fresh westerly 



WE found ourselves off White Head in the morning and ran 

 in close to shore after stopping the engine. The day was clear 

 with a westerly wind which gave promise of increasing. By eleven 

 we were passing Canso. There followed a few hours of less wind 



