234 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



The weather was settled fine, and as a small 

 steamer happened to be going from Aberdeen to 

 Lowestoft, I took a trip in her down the east 

 coast, out of sight of which throughout the minia- 

 ture voyage she seldom was. Past the Inch Cape 

 Rock, where the pious monks of old placed the 

 warning bell, removed so fatally, we steamed over 

 a summer sea ; past St. Abb's Head, Holy Island, 

 and Fern Island, hallowed by the Christianity of 

 early Britain. Tees' mouth we sighted, which 

 recalled my trout experiences. Right under the 

 towering Flamborough Head we glided, and in 

 imagination I could see the patient anglers on 

 Bridlington pier fishing for pollack. Then Spurn 

 Head. Next, the Wash — with its memories of 

 King John — King's Lynn, and Sandringham 

 House. Finally, through fleets of fishing-boats, 

 Yarmouth Roads, to our destination, Lowestoft, 

 which boasts of being the most easterl}- town in 

 the kingdom. 



When I arrived there had just been some 

 extraordinary catches of herrings, some boats 

 having secured 187 crans, or 150,000 fish, and 

 the price had consequent!}' fallen to 2s. 6d. 

 per 800, or 26 for a penny — a slump, needless to 

 say, that did not benefit Londoners, for fish- 

 mongers suavely ignored the fact, and continued 



