_ FRESH-HALIBUT FISHERY. 77 
To one standing upon the deck of our little schooner at this time, the scene, though grand and 
impressive, had a decidedly wintry and dreary look. The ice-covered hull and rigging, the dark 
masses of snow-laden clouds driven to leeward by the gale, which shrieked and whistled through 
the ropes and lashed into the wildest fury the foam-flecked waters, piling them into huge waves, 
was a sight that, once seen, could never be forgotten. But on we went, now plunging down the 
side of a great wave, again lurching heavily, filling the deck with water, which, as the vessel 
straightened up again, went dashing over to the weather-side, often out over the rail, and some of 
it finding its way, through the binnacle, into the cabin. 
The remark of one of our boys that “any one who cart swim had better take a back seat” was 
certainly very apt, but the gravity of the situation, and the dangers incident to running in such a 
gale, with the sea on the quarter, were better expressed by the order, frequently shouted to the man 
at the wheel, “Watch her sharp, now! Keep your eye to wind’ard, and if you see a big one coming, 
swing her off and let her take it stern-to.” ; 
During the afternoon there was a nasty and dangerous cross-sea running, rendering it extremely 
unsafe to continue on our course during the night. We therefore took in the jib and farled it before 
dark, and at 5 o’clock p. m. hove to under double-reefed foresail and riding-sail. At 7 p.m. the 
gale still continued with undiminished force, but, like a gull with its head under its wing, our little 
vessel rises and falls, safely breasting the foam-crested waves as they go seething by, leaving behind 
them a phosphorescent track, which lights up the surrounding darkness, in a peculiarly weird manner. 
Thus closes this day, the events of which I now sit down to write before turning in for the night. 
Monday, January 27, 1879. —We kept off again at6a.m. At this time the wind still blew a 
gale. The sky was overcast with heavy leaden-looking clouds, varied occasionally by a wild-look- 
ing black and scurrying snow squall, driving along to leeward. The barometer had risen to 30.00, 
It still remained as cold as yesterday. We set the jib at 7, and shook the reef out of the foresail 
at 7.30 a.m. The wind had lulled some at this time, though it still blew heavy in the squalls. 
When these struck in the sails, the Marion would tremble and quiver like a leaf, and, settling 
down to her work, roll up the white water under her bows, sending sheets of foam and spray hiss- 
ing off to leeward. At 10 a.m. we passed about half a mile to windward of a large brig-rigged 
steamship. She was heading to the westward and had fore and main trysails and close-reefed fore 
and main topsails set; was badly iced up and going slow. As a general thing we go along first- 
rate. Sometimes, however, our schooner takes a heavy lurch to leeward, sending the lee rail under 
out of sight. When she straightens up again the water rushes to windward, often going over the 
weather rail, but more frequently filling the binnacle, and thereby finding its way into the lee 
bunks, and calling forth emphatic exclamations from those who are thus unfortunate enough to 
have wet boots and bed-clothes. The clouds were broken at noon. I got a meridian observation 
and found our latitude to be 42° 39’ N. We made an average of ten knots this forenoon. The 
wind decreased a little in the afternoon, and there was a decided change in the temperature, so 
much so.that the ice on deck grew softer. At 4p. m.a “flopper” broke over the quarter, some of 
which came into the cabia and wet the book in which Iam writing my journal. Thisis a bad time 
for writing, but I shall not soon get a better chance, and this one must therefore be improved. 
The wind veered gradually to the westward in the afternoon, and at 6 p.m. was WNW.; bar- 
ometer, 29.95. At 8.30 p. m. there was somewhat less wind and smoother sea. 
Tuesday, January 28, 1879.—The wind moderated gradually after midnight, and at 2.30 a. m. 
called all hands, unbent the riding-sail, and set the mainsail and staysail. Light baffling airs and 
calms at 6 a. m., with indications of an easterly wind. Barometer, 30.10. At 7.30 a. m. a ligh‘ 
breeze sprang up from SE. by E. We tacked, and headed to the eastward on the starboard tack. 
