A Sea-Painter's Log. ... With illustrations by the author

Preface

. ♦ During many years of out-door life, spent chiefly among fishermen and sailors, or afloat in my own boat, I have been in the habit, like Captain Cuttle. of making notes of anything when found. I have made no attempt to connect or splice these notes together or spin them into longer yarns, as I think that doing so would add nothing to the value of the very little I have to say. Most of the extracts from my log have from time to time appeared in the St. James's Gazette, and I have to thank the Editor and Proprietors of that paper for kindly allowing me to publish them in their present form. ROBERT C. LESLIE. 6, Moira Place, Southampton. March, 1886. PACF r CONTENTS.

Chapter I

" No Man's Land." — Mudflats, haply almost inaccessible, and of little value except to the Creatures that feed upon them. — The Eel-spearer. — Mud-pattens. — A Voyage up some unexplored Rivers : their Banks, Sea-grass. — Tidal Migration of Fish. — The Watchman on the Beacon. — Deserted Smack. — Little People of No Man's Land, &c. — " A Crab's-eye View," reverential, but personally tending toward Self-reliance and Obstinacy. — His Legal Mind. — Mysterious Knowledge of dark Corners in a Boat. — A Fishmonger's View of a Crab. — "The lesser Mudlark," at high and low Tide. — His Enemy. — Broad Sanctuary and happy Hunting Grounds. — His Yacht

Chapter II

An old Portsmouth Wherry. — An un-official Survey. — Repairs and Decorations. — Changes her Name. — Her Owner. Passengers, Cargo, &c. — Peter's Yarn .... CONTENTS. VIII PAGE

Chapter III

•• At the Town Quay."— A small Village Quay-trader.— Exports and Imports.— An " Old Toiler of the Sea."— Her Cargo, Crew, and Live Stock.— A Yorkshire Billy-boy.— The Collier-brig.— "The Ice Ship."— Her Fit-out and Skipper. —His Pump and Profits . . -39

Chapter IV

'■Boating a Poor Man's Recreation." — How? Why? and When ? — Sailors not Boatmen. — An Amateur's Boat. — Limit of Size. — Some Directions upon coming to a Mooring. — Buying a Boat. — Waterside Jockeys. — Sea Grass— And Sea Sheep. — When and how Sea Grass grows. — Foul and Clean Ships and Sir Francis Drake. — Careening and Breaming in the Fifteenth Century. — The old Common Hard. — A Poor Man's Anti-fouling Composition. — The Yacht-skipper's Captain. — A Scrub. ■ — Laid Ashore. — A Broken Leg. — A " Squall." — The Eurydice. — The Approach and Attack. — Under Fire. — Confusion. — Recovery. — The Enemy disperses. — A Dusting. — Safe Maxim. — "Spoiling a Gent." — Oil-skins. — The Dust. — Pumping it out, &c. — " Our Regatta." — We study the Tides and advertise it. — An old Club. — Our Club-room. Secretary, and Honorary Members. — Events of the Day. — A sad Innovation . . . . . . .54 CONTENTS. IX PAGB 92 "5

Chapter V

Yachtsmen in Winter." — Summer Friends. — Stout Skippers, their Winter Quarters. — Stow-boating. — Small Trawlers, the Yachtsman's School of Seamanship, &c. — "A long Night in Christchurch Bay." — The two Pilots. — Pilot No. 1 alone in his 36-ton Cutter. — A dark Night. — Pilot No. 2 and his Crew in a r4-feet Punt. — Christchurch Bells. — A Lee Shore. — In the Breakers. — Under their Boat. — The Pilot's Losses. — Scudding. — A fair Wind. — Too much of a good thing. — Battened down. — Dinner. — Total Loss of second Course. — A Sailor's Holiday. — Pooped. — Brought to, &c. ......

Chapter VI

A last Look at our Fleet under Canvas." — A Dispute. — The Yankee Captain's Opinion. — A Figure-head. — Change of Light. — Waste of fair Wind.— Symonds's Ships, &c. — "An old Log." — How we brought Rum and Sugar across the Atlantic 150 years ago. — A good Day's Run. — Hard Work and short Allowance. — In Chase.— Latitude and Longitude by good Observation.— Soundings, Spelling, &c. — "Sea Poets and Painters," who they are. — Dean Swift's Seamanship. — "The Ancient Mariner," Turner, Huggins, &c. — " Some old and young Men of the Sea." — Love-making Afloat. — That old Man of the Sea.— His Boat.— Her Gear.— His Mainsheet and Mate. — The bold Smuggler . CONTENTS. X PAGE

Chapter VII

" On Deal Beach." — From Hemp and Canvas to Chain and Steam. — Monumental Anchors. — The old Semaphore. — A Boatman's Armour. — Launch of a Lugger. — "A dry • Launch." — Capstans. — Galley-punts. — Landing a Pilot. — The Anchor-harvest. — "A Foxy Day." — Airing Sails. — Sounds of the Port. — A Day of Reflections. — A Boatswain's Reflection. — Cat's-paws. — Sunset. — A fresh Hand at the Bellows . . . . . . . .141

Chapter VIII

Mackerel-Fishing off Sidmouth." — Daybreak. — Land and Sea Breeze. — Lines and Bait. — Red-tape versus 'Baccy-pipe, &c. — The " Lerry." — Finding the Fish. — Beer Men. — A Liberal Offer. — A good Catch. — Jelly Fish. — A Mackerel Breeze. — Landing. — Drifting for Herring.— Stormy Days. — A clear Beach.— A Change of Wind. — To Sea or Chapel ? — Signs of Fish. — Caught Out. — Landing under Chit Rocks. — The Beach at Night 15S

Chapter IX

Sprats and Spratting."— Our Beef. — Where it comes from.— Small Boat Spratting.— A Stow-boat, her Cabin, Cook, &c — Her Deck. — The Net.— A Black-capped Gull's Appetite. — Christchurch Bay.— Dealers. — Red-headed CONTENTS. XI \i PAGE Fish. — "Cormorants." — Bird Trawler. — Rapid Digestion. — Under-water Flight. — A Fisherman's Yarn explained. — Easily tamed and trained to fish. — " Wet as a Shag." — Armour-plated. — Power of judging Distance. — Coast Gunners, &c. . . . . . . . . 175

Chapter X

Flat Fish." — Begin Life on edge. — Skate. — Sindbad's Island. — The Sail Fluke.- — Muscular Power of Soles. — Flounders. — Nets. — Trotting. — Wooden Fish-hooks. — "Brook Trout."— The Mystery of a dark Shadow.— Tiny Waterfall. — A Road Drain. — Devonshire Brooks. — Groping. — Herb-flavoured Trout . . . . . . .192

Chapter XI

On some Pleasures and Pastimes of Animals." — My Neighbour's Tom-cat. — Waste of Time. — A Dog's Morning Paper. — A Happy Ass. — Horse Play. — Sea Birds. — A Porpoise's Air-bath. — The artistic Pleasures of Animals, &c. — " A very common little Dog." — Where She came from, her Price, Breed, &c. — A Sporting Friend's Opinion. — Meets Toby. — A Flirtation. — Musical Talent, &c. . 209

Chapter XII

Yachts New and Old."— No. 8 New York Pilot.— A Prophecy. — The America. — Our Schooners. — Squire Weld. — The Wave Line. — New York Sail Makers. — Lead and CONTENTS. XII PAGE 222 Leverage.— Dan Hatcher.— Toy Models,— Centre-boards. —A Return Lesson. — Bad Type of Yacht.— A Handy Boat. — A Heavy Keel. — The old Arrow. — Mainbooms, &c— " From Maida-vale to Ramsgate Fifty Years ago." — The Route. — Getting under Weigh. — Too much by the Head. — Heavy Sea on Ludgate Hill. — Wreck of Tender. — A Block in the City. — The right Boat.— Susan's Box.— Music. — The Nore. — Dinner on Board the Duchess of Kent.— "The Man at the Wheel."— Ramsgate.— Cliff Cottage, &c. — "Old Sea Songs." — The good old Woman's Advice. — " Good Morning, Ladies all " .