BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 387 
and none of them put out their gear after repairing it, they all gath- 
ered around a vessel just out from home, and the skippers went on 
board of her to learn the news and inquire for letters. As our captain 
was going, too, I joined him and spent two or three hours very pleas- 
antly, learned some new facts about beam-trawling, and was gratified 
to find the fishermen communicative and intelligent, many of them pos- 
sessing a comprehensive knowledge of the business in which they were 
engaged, and some haviug considerable general information. 
Fig. 26. Visiting. 
I did some sketching to-day, but, owing to the prevalence of rainy 
weather since the cruise began, there have been few opportunities for 
securing sketches. 
Saturday, July 3. — There was a fresh southwest breeze in the morn- 
ing — a head wind for Grimsby, which materially decreased my chances 
of reaching Southampton to join the Neckar. 
We began to heave up the trawl at 2.30 a. in., and at 5 o’clock it was 
alongside. About 800 to 1,000 pounds of fish were taken on this haul. 
After the trawl was up the smack filled away, and stood along to the 
westward, by the wind, with the rest of the fleet in company, until the 
fish were ready to put on board the Sobriety , when we hove to and 
waited for the morning’s catch to be u boarded.” 
Several of the skippers, among whom was Captain Tidder, came 
aboard the Sobriety to bid me good bye, and to wish me a safe and 
speedy passage home. From all of these men I received uniform kind- 
ness and courtesy, while they have shown a willingness to give me all 
the information possible concerning their vocation. 
As soon as the fish were all aboard our guests took their leave, our 
smack filled away, all sail but the jib-topsail was set, and we headed 
along about west by south, close hauled on the port tack. When the 
fish were all below and iced the bobstay was hooked on and hove taut ? 
