h our friend.

Before long the cutter appeared, and we stood out of the harbour after
her. We sailed in company for two days, when on Sunday morning, shortly
after breakfast, we made out the fleet, with most of the vessels near us
hove-to, a steamer being among them, stationary, like the rest. In the
distance were many other vessels, some standing towards the fleet,
others sailing in different directions, and a few ships passing by. On
getting near enough to distinguish their flags, we found that several of
them carried the "Bethel" flag, a notice that service was to be held on
board. Both the yachts therefore hove-to, and under the guidance of our
friend we pulled on board one of the vessels. We were gladly received
by the master, who was going to conduct the service. The crews of
several other vessels having come on board, he invited us to join them,
which we willingly did, although the space was somewhat confined.
Several hymns were sung, the fine manly voices of the fishermen
producing a good effect. A chapter of God's Word was read, and a gospel
address was given. After service, the men returned on board their
vessels with books and tracts, which had been distributed among them.

We remained until the following day, that we might see the fish caught.
Our friend the skipper gave us a great deal of information about
trawlers. The Yarmouth fleet consists of several hundred vessels,
ranging from fifty to seventy tons. They have increased rapidly. Fifty
years ago, there were none belonging to Great Yarmouth. They only form
a small portion of English and Irish trawling vessels. Many hundred
sail leave the Thames, the Humber, Scarborough, and Lowestoft, to fish
in the North Sea; while several other places send out fifty or sixty
vessels to the English or Irish Channels, manned by some thousands of
fishermen. It is calculated that they supply the English markets daily
with three or four hundred tons of fish.

The beam trawl consists of a triangular purse-shaped net, about seventy
feet long, forty wide at the mouth, gradually diminishing to four or
five at the commencement of the cod, as the smaller end is called. This
part of the trawl, about ten feet long, is of a uniform breadth to the
extremity, which is closed by a draw-rope, like the string of a purse.
The upper part of the mouth is made fast to a beam about forty feet in
length, which keeps the net open. This beam is supported by two upright
iron fr