August 17th 1921

The morning of the 17th broke with rain showers and a moderate sea and breeze. We steered to the northward and eastward looking for cod. As in the days of old when people asked for bread and were given a stone, so we looked for cod and found anything else, particularly herring, mackerel and haddock. Several steamers and trawlers were sighted but very little cod. Barnacles in bunches about 1" in diameter, mussels 4" long, large cockles (all shell fish empty) and the various marine fungi brought up in the trawl were from a spectator's point of view interesting; from a fisherman's not very remunerative.

After each haul this refuse, together with immature fish are thrown overboard for the tit-bits to be selected and devoured by the waiting and watching seagulls; some of the fish being swallowed whole without causing the seagull inconvenience or being the cause of gastric disorder.