Gilpin observer., 1912-07-04

can't pass on when you have done with it; some
thing that will be exclusively and peculiarly your
own; and in the process you will learn to know
yourself. You will end that you worth
knowing
At this stage of the game it will pay you well
TO cultivate the society of fshermen-not on
their smacks, but ashore when their work is done.
Like all men who have been picked and salted
down by the sea- they good-natured breed.
and what many OF them know about knots and
spices and the use of the marlnspike would fill
volumes. II you are intelligent you will find that
they like teaching you almost as much as they
like whisky and tobacco-even your whisky and
tobacco; when they find that you don't patronize
them and won't be patronized. their hearts will
go out to you-bg. strong, seasated hearts; you
VIII find that they have brand OF humor
cusively their own and insight that you
never dreamed Of Their company is good.
But beware OF their ideas seamanshtpi
They will voice the usual belief that single
hahders are mad, and that any port in a storm
Is better than no port; both Of which beliefs are
rank heresy! But listen to them when they
talk OF using the lead for the soundinglead is to
a seaman what his nose is to a hound. and more.
lhey Will probably tell you that forty pound an
chor is heavy enough for any one man to handle
In tideway. but as the size of the yacht yon
intend to handle later must depend on the size
OF the anchor you can manage without assistance
and on nothing else. you will do well to remem-
Der that there is veteran who has been sailing
singlehanded around the English Coast for some
thing like forty years who uses anchor weigh
Ing hundred and twenty pounds for a yacht OF
some thirty tons register!
And he does not buoy his anchor and leaye IL
In tide-rip when the glass is falling and he is
In hurry to be off He gets 1t up and inboard
ana cats 1t down on deck sailor.wise before he
starts Things like that depend on seamanship;
and seamanship can be learned only on the high
seas from personal experience Spend most of
your time then. on the high seas in your little
open sailingboat and in your spare time study
the ways of fishermen
The basis OF your future independence will be
your sea-anchor; and you must never under any
circumstances. for any reason whatever nut
to sea without one II is nothing but a canvas
Dag distended on an iron ring and ashed on to
the end OF a rope warp Without il you are
at the mercy Of the wind and waves but with it.
II you use It properly. you are absolutely safe
And its use is one OF the simplest things con.
nected with boat
Most accidents at occur when running for
shelter before a storm. from running before
the wind until It is too late to heave to without
swamping the boat Get into your head that the
safest place in a storm is the open sea. and the
most dangerous place is the entrance to a harbor
With your sea anchor out in front OF you at the
end OF a good stout warp to keep your boats nose
into the wind. you will be safe in any storm
that blows provided that with seamanlike discre.
thing fast In time And. provided that your boat
is OF the right sort. you will be warm and dry
So get In the way OF using your sea anchor even
when there is no necessity and learn to place I'M
plicit confidence in It.
The next most important thing to your sea an.
chor is the lead; you absolutely must learn to
take soundings. You will discover that there are
easier things to do than to handle small boat
and take soundings at the same time, even In
shallow water; but II you try hard enough and
often enough you will nnd out how to do It; and
gradually will realize how It is that captains