THE VEXED BERMOOTHES. 



257 



gate and the mystery was explained by 

 the capture of the escaping Boer. 



For recreation the Bermudas are ideal. 

 The temperature in summer rarely exceeds 

 90 degrees and is tempered by the moist 

 ocean breezes. In winter the thermometer 

 averages about 70 degrees, so that life out 

 of doors is both possible and delightful. 

 There are golf links, tennis grounds and 

 cricket fields ; roads, made by scraping the 

 soil from the coral rock, as hard and smooth 

 as asphalt; with many objects of interest 

 to give a purpose and delight to a drive, 

 ride or walk. These roads are an object 



jib headed or leg-of-mutton, with its foot 

 stretched on a boom, though sometimes on 

 a sprit. The body of their yachts is of 

 deep draught, and heavily ballasted. They 

 stand any kind of weather work handily 

 and sail fast. 



Rowing appears not to be a favorite 

 amusement, for the rowboats are heavy 

 and clumsy, but well adapted for rough 

 weather. 



Fishing is good, but better in summer 

 than in winter. It is said by the natives 

 that the fish South of the Gulf stream are 

 different in kind from those North of it. 



ARM CHAIR ROCK ON NORTH COAST. 



lesson to the visitor from the States. The 

 Government has expended large sums for 

 their construction and maintenance, cutting 

 through hills of rock, in many instances, 

 to reduce the grades. There are no rail- 

 roads or trolley lines on the islands, the 

 carriages are good and the bicycle is a 

 universal means of travel. Yachting with- 

 in the smooth waters of the bay and sound, 

 or in the rougher waters beyond, may be en- 

 ioved in its perfection. The rig of the 

 Bermuda yacht is peculiar. A long bow- 

 sprit carries a large, almost balloon jib. 

 In racing a still longer jib boom carries a 

 jib topsail. The mast is a pole mast, very 

 tall and raking away aft. The mainsail is 



In summer great rock fish, redsnappers 

 and groupers, weighing 20 to 50 pounds, are 

 caught off the reefs. In winter hogfish, 

 bream, sailors' choice, porgies and amber 

 fish are principally caught. The porgy is 

 esteemed the game fish. In shape it is like 

 thescuppogue, which is the "scup" of Mar- 

 tha's Vineyard, and the "porgy" of Long 

 Island. In weight the Bermuda porgy far 

 exceeds the scuppogue, running 8 to 15 

 pounds. Porgies are caught in about 20 

 feet of water, over the patches of coral 

 rock, with a bait of mussels or squid. Sea 

 eggs are frequently broken and thrown in 

 the water about the boat to attract the 

 fish ; chumming, we call it at Sandy Hook 



