Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-02

small boats they carry, and frequently from
seeing a man at the masthead on the lookout
for schools, Mackerel always go in Schools
and when the water is not too rough, are often
seen ripping the surface and leaping out in
every direction. The crew are shipped under
shares, each man having half his catch, from
which, however, is deducted his share of the
bait bill and the cooks bill, which is fifteen or
twenty dollars above "high line" or the high.
est catch. To be high line is the great aim, and
TO that end every nerve is strained, and the men
grow very jealous of each other, and frequently
serious difficulties arise. Our cruise extended
along the Massachusetts coast, off Cape Cod,
and then to Georges Shoals, from eighty to one
hundred and twenty miles eastward in the At
lantic, and then to Mt. Desert, in Maine, and
along the coast to Gloucester again. The seem
cry at Mt. Desert is very fine. A range of
mountains rises boldly from the shore, which,
in their outlines, remind one strongly of the
Catsklls on the Hudson river. We had what is
called "'long shore fishing" During the sum-
Iner and autumn the best cruising ground is
found in the bay of St. Lawrence. We were on
shore once during our trip, at Portland, where,
as we walked up town, everything seemed to
reel round and the earth to come up and meet
our feet at every step; due, suppose, to our
having entered the harbor under stout breeze.
We also had the true sailors roll, diving first on
one side and then on the other.
Altogether such trip is great pleasure to
one that does not mind few Inconvenience.
To a novice, however, l would say by
oil mt in fIa
which you can very easily do, if in no
other way, by paying small bonus.
There is less motion, though ] cannot conscen-
tiously say fewer bed-bugs, for from experience
l found that forecastle and cabin were both pref
ty full. CHANGING one day to take up paper in
the cabin, three fat ones crawled out from under
the sheet, and quite spoiled the romance was
reading. 1t would be advisable to provide
plenty of clothing, no matter how old, only let
it be thick and warm. And before embarking
it would be well to ask sailor to let you see the
contents of his box, so that you can procure one
similar, filled with files, snapper lines and so
forth. An oiled suit and sou'-wester are also in
diSpensable. When arrayed in these you are
impervious to the rain. The first night we were
some one express it, "as though you would like
friend to kick you overheard" and the heat
and stencil so intoerable below that a descent
there might fidy be compared to the "descensus
ad Avernos," stay on deck was almost ne
cessity. Sleep at length overcame me, and
lying on an old sail cloth covering coil of rope,
filled as it was with pools of water, and fully
exposed to the driving rain, l enjoyed refresh
ing nap until nearly morning, and taking off
the oil suit was not wet particle. Heavy wool
en- shirts are very necessary. By all means also
ship as one of the crew, taking a regular share
of the duties. Yon find these not very onerous
and not at all dangerous. You will not be call
cd upon to go aft in fair weather or foul. 9th
erwise the time will pass rather slowly, if you
do not strike mackerel. In nine cases out of ten
You will come back refreshed and invigorated
for work.
Rarely will any one have so miserable time
as a gentleman met at the hotel after our re-
turn. He had come from Michigan for the ex-
press purpose of taking trip on mackerel
schooner. He was out week, was so sick that
he felt as though he should die every minute,
and at the end Of week was put on
shore and made his way as best he
could to Gloucester. Parties from all
sections try mackereling for recreation,
and few fail to receive benefit. You will get
plenty of pure, fresh air. remember well with
what peculiar gusto sailor referred to it as /
was standing near him at the wheel one midnight
watch. He said "You don't get no such air as
this long shore" There is very little to com.
plain of on the score of GRUB" We had. OF
course, the inevitable salt pork and beef, but in
addition, fresh mackerel every day, cod quite
often, soft tack or hot biscuit every other morn
ing, fresh made bread, chowders, and OCCASION
ally pies and tip-top doughnuts, with the privi-
lege of eating at all times. | might also men,
ton duff, which some one describes as a lot of
boiled dough with two or three dried apples
stuck in" Duff is the sailors great dish, and
when they describe it they have such high
opinion of its merits that they say "it will
make the hair grow on your teeth" 1t would
be well to take some condensed milk, and per-
haps canned fruit, unless the trip is taken after
the middle of August, which is the best season,
as mackerel are fatter and more plenty, for
then the vessels are in port nearly every night.
Wine is very useful, and reading matter should
be provided.
While on board your duty will consist in do
ing solely as others do. You will need to book
up the points of the compass so as to take a
regular trick at the wheel. BE careful to avoid
the mistake of "greeny" on our vessel, who
when the skipper asked him the course, replied:
Southwest by southeast" which pleased the
old fellow greatly. You will also be called on
to stand watches. Every night at shutdown the
mainsail is lowered, and with the jib and fore
sheet set and wheel adjusted, the vessel pursues
her course and takes care of herself with the ex-
ception that each Of the crew have a watch
of an hour, beginning an hour earlier each
night, to keep a lookout for vessels. 1t isn't
always pleasant to be called out about midnight,
and roll around the deck with the sand man
busily employed. Sometimes, however, these
watches are very enjoyable. On clear, NOON
light night, with the stars brightly shining, and
the vessel tossing restlessly on the dark forbid
ding waves, and not sail in sight on the "big
pond" of which you are at the centre, an hours
watch passes very quickly in rejecting on the
beauty of the scene; or, when on a quiet even
iuR gou art Ill lne HlluSG Vi tne mackerel Meet,
and lights are visible in every direction from
the three or four hundred sail of vessel which
surround you, you idly drift along together,
and from the nearer vessels the music of guitars,
violins and banjos, singing and hearty laughter
are indistinctly heard, and for moment you
might almost fancy the scene dream. Some
times, however, the atmosphere, before clear,
is suddenly filled with a thick mist, and then it
is not quite so pleasant standing at the bow,
with the spray dashing over you, to blow an old
tin horn at intervals for an hour
The forecastle is great place for yarns" of
every description, some true ones. remember
well the burst of indignation that found vent in
anathemas deep and loud against the skipper
who, while his vessel was anchored in a gale,
refused to cut the cable, worth three or four
hundred dollars, to save the life of sailor who
had fallen overheard, when he might easily
have been saved but for the foul parsimony of
the captain; and the cheers of laughter which
greeted the story of the escape of young sailor
who, while his vessel was blowing the waves of
the China sea, had the misfortune to fall over
board plank was thrown him, but unite