AUSTRALIAN FISHES 125 



six thousand miles of water from South America, 

 the nearest land. It was here that, many years 

 ago, after an awful gale during the night, the 

 lighthouse keeper looked over the edge of the 

 .cliff and saw a few timbers. They were all that 

 remained of a fine ship, the Dunbar. In the 

 darkness she had missed the harbour's entrance, 

 and was dashed to pieces against the cliff, every 

 soul on board, save one, perishing, not even their 

 bodies being recovered. 



The keeper's attention was arrested by some- 

 thing white fluttering in the wind on a narrow 

 ledge near the sea, and discovered that it was a 

 seaman apparently dead. A long rope was pro- 

 cured, and with great difficulty he was hoisted up, 

 and was found to be still breathing. He recovered 

 and lived many years to tell the tale of his awful 

 adventure. The ship had struck without the least 

 warning, and a mighty wave had swept him off the 

 forecastle and flung him senseless high up on to 

 the rock where he was found. 



But we have come to the North Head to fish, 

 and not to yarn about shipwrecks. 



With a very strong and long line, a big hand- 

 lead attached, some spare hooks, and a bag full 

 of " burley " (a vile-smelling mixture of rotten 

 salmon, cheese, &c.) for ground-bait, and some soft 



