Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-03
ON THE BANKS.
[Dr. George A. Phillips. of Ellsworth. in Lew
iston Journal

Every one has heard OF the "Grsnd
Banks, that vast submarine plateau,
some five or six hundred miles long by
half as many wide, that lies off the east
and southeast coast OF New Fonndiand,
and between that island and Europe. Not
far from its western border there is a hill
ON this great plain, gradually rising
toward the surface, until at the most
prominent point, when wind and tide are
willing, one may see in the clear blue OF
the water--which is here free from the
impurities that hinder sight nearer
shore--the huge kelp that cling to the
bottom and sway to the motion of the sea,
and not infrequently, also, in severe gales,
the shallowness of the water is made
apparent by the "breakiDg of the pillows
as they sweep Ger its surface. All
around this Virgin Rock", the water OF
the Banks is more shallow, as the bot
tom rises towards this centre, and the
ubiquitous cod nave here fsvorite haunt.
Each summer around this Crock are
vessels from the coast OF Maine and Mass
achusetts. varying in tonnage and capac
ity from ten to thirty boats each. There
is often fleet OF from ten to twenty yes
sells which, on clear day, make show
ing OF one or two hundred boats lying
within acircumference of two or three
miles, each endeavoring to out-do the
others in the number of fish caught, aud
the difference of skill is often remarkable.
At the time of which l write, in Sep
TENDER of 1859, the good schooner
"Queenn was there, commanded by Capt.
Martin, with a crew of twenty-one and
twenty boats, and on that particular
afternoon, the third of the above named
month, he was not in the best OF humor.
1t was late in the season, and every en-
deavor had failed to get but little more
than half s.fare." In his ten summers
an master, heihad never failed to carry
home load, and he swore by sNeptune's
Ghost" he never woald.
Two or three things seemed always
necessary on these vessels. One is that
the Captains "dressing gang must stay
In afternoons, whether there are fifty fish
brought In at noon, as the "waistn is full;
another, that while healthy discipline
must be maintained, and the dignity of
the Captains position always outwardly
observed, which is we'll, that, also, moth
ing SO tends to preserve his dignity as
the utmost secrecy as to his future pro-
ceedings--these must be locked in his
own breast.
There was. however. in his sspanpu. a
vounr man OF seventeen for whom he had
entertained a decided affection. He
showed il but little. and never in the
presence of a third person w hich was well
for the hov amony the man. all of whom.
with one exception. bore him the same
preference. He was. in a word. a general
fayorite. and wbv shouldn't he be? To
them he was a wonderful scholar. being
In his first wear in college. He never
realized. or never seemed to. that he in
anv way differed from any OF them In
sccompIishmeuts or social standing.
Hanover wesried Of doing a favor. and
each So bbath. w hen the elements would
rusty razor and shaved every man of
them who did not prefer to wear beard,
He even arranged an OLD pair of forceps.
and managed nv hook or nv crook to nre-
vail upon recaicitrant tooth to give up
its honv he'd. and ever after they called
him nDoctorn. or s.Doc,, for short. He
was ready to do for the worst OF them
sew a rent or a button "back to it's moor
inys,, as thew called if. whenever needed,
He helped. also. as referee of knowledge
in the narrow limits of their reouire-
ments. Most largely these discussions
involved some geographical knowledge.
i'm which he was unite proficient. geogra-
phv. history and rhetoric being his
favorite studies in the common school.
Once in a while a ship or steamer
CROSSED he .Banksu. and IL was a custom
ro have Letters written in a sort of diary
fashion. i. e.. each Sunday or day of storm
a few sentepces were added. Many of the
rnep. especialIv those from New Bruins.
wick were NOT the hest of speliers. and
4. .-,... 49,. - ahontas ,,cha -,