It is now a week since I have been down to the waterfront to look for Sailing Coasters to find out their destinations. The weather has changed again. On my last visit the frost and cold was intense, with icicles hanging from the eaves of the various fish sheds and warehouses, and ice forming a silver apron in the moonlight around the waterline of the vessels tied to the quays. Tonight, a week later, the fog is a thick clinging blanket, smelling of sulphur and the smoking of fish ~ a quite unusual mixture! As I walk to the waters edge a tarlike smell joins the unsavory duet of aromas. Rounding the corner of a small watchman's hut with a brazier burning outside, I come across three caulkers with an upturned vessel. There is a large vat of tar bubbling away and they are dipping lengths of stranded hemp into the black liquid and forcing it between the planks on the hull of what turns out to be a rowing boat, presumably to make it watertight. Hurrying past, I resume my listing of the vessels and their destinations.
Liverpool - N. Martindale, 25 Peter Lane.
Hest Bank - John Holme.
sail in regaular succession every week, full or not full.
Liverpool - James Winder, Mercer Court, Redcross Street.
Kendal - James Fisher, Strickland Gate.
Liverpool - William Jones, George's Dock Pssage.
Thomas Nickson, 31 Hodson Street.
Liverpool - James and John Sharp, 31 Pool Lane.
Limerick - John Sharp & Co..
Liverpool - John O'Neill, 68 south side Old Dock.
one of these vessels sails every 14 days.
Liverpool - W. Pemberton & Son, 3 Mersey Street.
London - Jeffery Smith, Cotton's Wharf, Tooley Street.
Liverpool - John Swainston, 14 Hanover Street.
London - Thomas Swainston, 16 Crooked Lane.
or more sails from each port every week.
Liverpool - John Farrar, Globe Chambers, 17 John Street.
London - C. Brown, Stanton's Wharf, Tooley Street.
At this point I decided my lungs would not take anymore of the obnoxious tasting fog, (even though I had a thick woollen muffler round my face) and I made for the waterfront gates and hailed a closed carriage to transport me home, to what I hoped was a thick vegetable broth full of suet dumplings, and the obligatory jug of mulled ale.
Be with you again soon, when I will start by finding vessels bound for LONDONDERRY.