The coasting-trade of the British Islands is replete with danger, yet it
is carried on with the utmost vigour; and there are always plenty of
"hands," as seamen are called when spoken of in connection with ships,
to man the vessels. The traffic in which they are engaged is the
transporting of the goods peculiar to one part of our island, to another
part where they are in demand.
In describing these vessels, we shall begin with the smallest.