close astern. The following method (which is called dredging) can then be employed with advantage, more especially if the bottom be of mud. The cable is hove short. One hand goes forward and keeps the vessel dragging slowly astern by taking chain in until the anchor is almost off the ground, while he stands by ready to give her back a little chain should she begin to drag too fast. The tide, running under the vessel at a faster rate than she is dragging, gives steerage way and enables the helmsman to steer his craft so as to avoid the anchored vessels, as he drifts down-stream stern on. As soon as the vessel gets into more open water, the anchor is got up and the sails are hoisted.
A similar plan is that employed by the Norfolk wherrymen when dropping down the narrow rapid river at Yarmouth with their sails furled. They trail a long chain (having no anchor on it) from their bows, over the muddy bottom, thus retarding their progress and providing the steerage way needed to keep them clear of obstacles and shoot the bridges.
A vessel moored to a buoy is easier to get under way than one lying at anchor, as she is under more complete control, and there is no dragging of the anchor to be feared. One can wait till she is canted in the right direction before slipping from the moorings; and by bringing the mooring-rope to one side or other of the vessel, one can ensure her casting off on the required tack. Thus if one wishes to cast
