line fixed to some part of the gunwale where he intends to fish from, when he gets to the ground. The bag, to put the schnapper in when caught, the bait to be used, already cut up, line and everything are generally so placed as to occupy the claim and contribute to the convenience of the fisherman when the actual sport begins. This is the part of the trip when the good and bad features of the man are brought out. The selfish man will go to the bait-bag, and it matters not to him whether the bait is scarce, and will only admit of each having two fish per man, he takes eight or ten, not caring one fig who goes without so long as he has plenty.

Flat Rock! Flat Rock! echoes through the ship from stem to stern, and then, as if by magic, all hands come tumbling upon deck, and every line is "manned" and ready for the fray. The Cadell is put close to the rocks, and when the command is heard to "stop her," the lines are let go, and then commences the scramble for the first fish to claim the shilling sweep. Fish O! all alive O! is heard, first from the bow, and in the stern, then all over the ship, and a squabble takes place as to which did catch the first fish, but everyone is so busily engaged with his line in the actual work of fishing, that no one bothers his head for the time being, as to who did land the "phenomenon.”

There is, perhaps, no more exciting sport in the world, in the way of fishing, than that of schnapper fishing at the Flat Rock when the fish are plentiful. It matters not, when the fish are about, whether you have one or ten hooks on your line, you can catch a fish on each hook. It is a wonderful sight to see the deck of a steamer bestrewed with hundreds of these grand fish.

Those who are most successful in schnapper fishing,

are those who have lots of physical strength, and who do not suffer from sea-sickness, the skill in hooking being reduced to a tug when the fish tugs.

Every now and then while the fishing goes on, there is a cheery hurrah! at the triumph of some one of the party landing some specially big groper, king, or other monster of the deep; with now and then a little chaff, and a challenge to "have a drink," when Joe! Joe! rings through every plank of the deck, till that worthy answers to the call and the order is supplied. The picture some fishermen present is somewhat unique; one hauls, and hauls away, and while he hauls he "lets go,' that is, "discharges cargo," that is, "casts up accounts,” that is between and while he is catching each fish, he is "sea-sick with the motion of the steamer; but he don't lie down, or knock off, but goes bravely on, till the anxiously looked for, and unmistakeable command is given—“ All lines up, we are off."

By the time Amity Point is reached, it is dinner time, and while we have been steaming from the fishing ground, several fine schnapper have been cleaned and cooked, so that when the anchor is cast in still water, and near the spot left in the morning, the dinner is spread ready for the party, No pack of wolves in the Arctic regions can outvie the appetites of a schnapper party after the sport is over, and they get into calm water. Nine out of every ten are unable, either from sea-sickness or excitement, to eat anything during the morning, so that the dinner, prepared when they return, is really dinner and breakfast. To see the amount of cargo taken aboard then, would lead to the belief that some special fast had been going on for the previous six days at least. Sydney called my attention to the fact that Mr. Stout, and Mr. Longtom, had each disposed of

a huge schnapper, and while one was trying to “ negotiate a turkey the other had a goose on his plate, while each, to judge from the pleasure expressed in every line of their faces, looked forward to "something to follow.” After dinner, the boats were sent on shore, there being ample time to reach town before dark if a start were made in an hour or two. The first lieutenant, who had so gallantly "stood by that Bell" over night, had with him, a kanaka servant, who was a first-class swimmer, and who, after dinner, cast off his clothes, and struck off for the shore. In this case, the old saying of "like master like man was reversed, for it wass-like servant like master- -as no sooner did the master see the woolly head of his kanaka struggling in the water, than he divested himself of his clothes and plunged over the side of the steamer. At first, little was thought of the matter, as the steamer, although in reality half-a-mile from the the shore seemed right on it; but one of the men employed pulling one of the boats between the steamer and the shore, noticed, while passing within a short distance of the swimmer, certain indications of fatigue, and at once pulled to him. It was well that he did, for the poor fellow was in the last stage of exhaustion; not even having enough strength to call out. There was a terrific tide running out, and he had battled with it till all his strength was spent. His servant landed all right, but it was marvellous how either of them escaped being taken by sharks, which are specially bad in the Channel the steamer anchored in. However, "all's well that ends well," and as the steamer arrived at the wharf just after dusk with "all aboard" and no one hurt, but on the other hand, everyone "brimful of the pleasure enjoyed, and each one with a bagful of fish, the verdict was proclaimed all round: "What a jolly trip we've had."

CHAPTER X.

PEARL FISHING IN TORRES STRAITS.

A SOUTH SEA ISLANDER'S YARN.

THE following" yarn " has been put together from particulars furnished by the South Sea Islander concerned.

My name is Sili Tarko, but on board ship the captain and men called me Tilê. In the month of May, 1875, I signed articles, and shipped on board the Pear-le for two years, the vessel being equipped for a pearl fishing expedition among the pearl beds in Torres Straits. The crew consisted of the captain, three Europeans, and three of my own countrymen. After a prolonged and rough voyage we reached Cape York, where we stayed one night, and anchored the next day in a central position among the pearl islands or beds.

After making all snug on board the vessel, and getting in a supply of firewood from an adjacent island, six of us were told off to man the good boat Gorton, in which we were to commence the work of fishing the precious pearl fish from its native "nests." The diving apparatus, provisions, fuel, &c., having been put on board our small craft, we set sail from the side of the Pear-le, in search of a "bed" to begin operations.

When I engaged in Sydney, the duties that appertain to a sort of generally useful hand were what I under

took to perform, but after acting as "tender" to the diver for a few days, I was informed that I would have to take my turn at the diving. This I thought very hard and unfair, as I was only getting small wages, while the professional divers were well paid. My protest was not listened to, and I had to encase myself in the diver's dress and explore for many a weary hour among the strange inhabitants and singular marine herbage at the bottom of the Straits seas.

I

I shall never forget the first time I reached the bottom with the cumbersome diver's dress on. If the reader can vividly realise being in the course of a few minutes transported from our world, on a bright morning, with its sun shining clearly, and with the voices of his fellow beings humming about him, to a world with no sound, and among creatures, some of hideous appearance and some very beautiful-the variety being endless, and all floating or gliding to and fro in a most mysterious wayhe will have some idea of what my sensations were. felt a creeping about my hair and whole body, and the strangeness of my marine associates, and the surroundings, conveyed the impression to my mind that, if not in the "other" world so much spoken of, I was at any rate, in a world quite different from our everyday working world. What added to the strangeness of the objects floating about was the fact, that they were all magnified by my "glass face," thus making them look more weird than they otherwise would have done.

One day when "down below" sending up the pearl .fish, I was startled by a great shark lashing about all round me. I did not feel what you would call alarm; but I should have felt more comfortable by the absence of my frisky friend. I stood quite still to see what he was at, and to be prepared for an emergency. The brute was