Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. FROM BOSTON TO SWAMPSCOTT. — A DEVIL'S-APRON AND ITS CONTENTS. I Was in Boston on the day indicated, Saturday, July 3, and after making purchase of an outfit in nearly literal compliance with the Professor's advice, I found myself at five o'clock in the afternoon on board the sloop, which was moored on the north side of Long Wharf. I do not know that I can write a better description of the vessel than that given in her fishing license, which, duly signed and countersigned by the Collector and Surveyor of the Port of Lynn, was kept on board in a tin case. It read thus: — " District of Marblekead: In pursuance of an act of Congress entitled ' An Act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same,' John Gor- ham and William G. Gurney, fishermen of Svrampscott, in the State of Massachusetts, having given bond that the sloop called the Helen, whereof the said Gurney is master, — burden 16 92-95 tons, as appears by the certificate of admeasurement, dated at Marblehead, the 22d day of May, 1856, by which certificate it appears that her length is 32 feet and 7 inches ; breadth, 12 feet and 5 inches; depth, 5 feet and 2 inches; square stern andbillet heads, — shall not be employed in any trade, while this license shall continue in force, whereby the revenue of the United States shall be defrauded, and having also sworn that this license shall not be used for any other vessel or for any other employment than is herein specified, license is hereby granted for the said sloop, called the Helen of Swampscott, to be employed in carrying on the cod-fishery for one year from the date hereof, and no longer. — May 7, 1858." The Professor was on board, in a state of keen impatience, accompanied by...