The hooks were baited with pieces of meat, or shreds of white or scarlet bunting.

The fish bit eagerly, and all three were kept actively employed in drawing them up, and rebaiting the hooks.

They were of all sizes, from a quarter of a pound to four or five pounds and, by dinner time, there were enough to furnish an ample meal for all on board.
"I will keep three or four of the men at work, this afternoon," Fairclough said, "and we will have night lines down.

We can salt down those we do not eat and, at any rate, we shall not be drawing much on our stores." By evening the new fore-top mast was in its place.

As the heaviest part of the work was now done, orders were given for a boat's crew to start, in the morning, to cruise along the coast and see if any stream ran into it.