376 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Dublin, Belfast, Carmarthen, Plymouth, Torquay, Hastings, Brighton, ' 
the Isle of Wight, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Paris.” 
Fig. 23. Ice-mill used by fish packers. 
As the tide approaches nearly to its full, the dock gates are opened, 
which is a signal for a busy and exciting scene. All is hurry and brs- 
tle on board of the smacks that are ready for sea, and which are rap- 
idly got under way and either sail or are towed out to sea through one 
of the entrances to the “ fish dock,” while through the other gate may 
be seen entering, one after the other, the vessels which have been hov- 
ering just outside— waiting for the rising tide — and whose signals and 
numbers have communicated to those on shore the welcome news of 
their arrival. Smacks from the “ cutter” and “ bulking” fleets, “sin- 
gle-boaters,” steam carriers from the “ steamer ” fleets, long-liners, hand- 
liners, freighters from Norway, some with lobsters others with fresh 
mackerel; on they come, shooting through the narrow entrance, to 
quickly find their berths in dock. On the pier-heads are gathered scores 
of men, and occasionally women and children — if the day be fine — some 
weaving a salute and wishing “good luck” to their departing friends, 
while others stand ready to give a greeting of welcome to the hardy fish- 
ermen returning, perhaps, from an absence of months. As the smacks 
arrive no time is lost in getting them into their respective berths, and 
if there be a considerable number they haul in and make fast, head on, 
to the “pontoon,” upon which the cargoes are discharged with as little 
delay as possible. As the fish are taken out they are sorted according 
to their grades or the condition in which they arrive. For instance, 
the fish taken alive from the well of a smack, having first been knocked 
on the head to kill them, are laid out in rows according to their species, 
