The following account of the Fleet, and of the various histories of the
voyages of the vessels which compose it, has been written out by me at
the request of the owners. I have also made for them the drawings and
the chart which illustrate the account.
The owners of this small merchant fleet had nowhere else handy to float
their vessels in than the small and winding Gara river and a very small
pond; the vessels when upon the river drove along with the stream, their
sails, when they had any, only being of use to get them out of bad
places, except occasionally when the current ran slowly; then, with a
fair wind, the "Pasear" and the "Monte," at any rate, would walk along
at a fine pace.
Long, light sticks were carried to steer the ships round dangerous
corners, and through narrow and difficult channels like the Two Snags;
and when I say she steered this way, or her skipper took such a course,
you will understand it is just put that way because it sounds better.
The two longest voyages were those of the "Theodore" and the "Pasear,"
both of which vessels travelled about a mile along the river. The owners
think that any other little boys who live near a stream sufficiently
deep to float ships drawing so little water might like to follow their
example and build a fleet, therefore I am to tell you how each vessel
was built, as well as the story of its voyage.
The chart shows the winding river down which the clippers voyaged, and
on it are marked the various snags, rapids, and other dangers.
JACK B. YEATS,
_Gara River_.
The owners and myself are indebted to the Fleet Poet for the verses
through the book.